The villain from Transformers: Rise of the Beasts has made an issue for the future Transformers sequels. Rise of the Beasts will adapt Hasbro's popular toy line Transformers: Beast Wars. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts depicts three warring fractions of animal-based Transformers arriving at Earth, in preparation for the arrival of villain Unicron. It's the introduction of this villain that could cause problems for the series as a whole.
2023's Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is a sequel to 2018's Bumblebee, taking place before the events of the franchise's first installment, 2007's Transformers. Though adapting Transformer: Beast Wars, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will also feature Autobots depicted in previous movies, including Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is therefore set to be a jam-packed adventure, but one villain might be best saved for the sequels.
Rise Of The Beasts Introducing Unicron Hurts Future Transformers Movies
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts has been announced as the first movie in a new trilogy in the Transformers franchise. Introducing Unicron in the first movie of a trilogy may, however, prove foolhardy. Unicron is established firmly in Transformers lore as the most powerful foe the Autobots have ever faced. While this is certainly an enticing premise, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts risks its future sequels by including the enemy too early.
Unicron is a highly powerful being on a far larger scale than previous Transformers characters and movies (akin to Marvel's Galactus). If Unicron is defeated in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, the planned sequels will have little room to expand the premise with similar jeopardy, being forced to downgrade to weaker villains from the Transformers pantheon. Equally, if Unicron is introduced in Rise of the Beasts, but remains undefeated, the movie risks an unsatisfying ending. It's a catch-22 that the movie must find a way to solve.
Will Unicron Be The Main Villain Of Transformers' New Trilogy?
From the Transformers: Rise of the Beasts trailer, Unicron appears to be a minor aspect, being built up for future movies with Scourge (voiced by Peter Dinklage) acting as the primary antagonist. Transformers have been working hard to foster an expanded cinematic universe, and are seemingly mirroring the Marvel Cinematic Universe and introduced an over-arching villain which can sustain several films. It has been confirmed that Rise of the Beasts is indeed the first of a new trilogy, and considering Unicron's power, the best tactic would be to introduce him in part in Rise of the Beasts and then conclude it epically across two further films.
In the trailer for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Optimus Prime notes that Unicron is an enemy the likes of which they have never faced. While this promises a much grander adventure than previously seen in the franchise, it's worth noting that most Transformers movies make a comparable claim, and Rise of the Beasts is set before the majority of these - which suggests they haven't faced anything at all yet. Nevertheless, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts has reinvented a somewhat tired franchise by introducing a beloved Transformers toy line, so it may yet negotiate the balancing act.
