These are Paramount's Plans for a Future Transformers Prequel

Just recently, new posters and a new trailer for the upcoming "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" surfaced. In addition to the long-awaited action blockbuster, an animated feature film is now also in production, as Paramount disclosed last week. The casting choices in particular have attracted a lot of positive attention.

The movie, titled "Transformers One", will reportedly be a prequel to the movie series. Together with director Josh Cooley, who among other projects directed "Toy Story 4", those responsible want to produce a different kind of film: "Transformers One" is to be an animated movie. After having told the story of the Transformers on Earth in numerous live-action films, the new project aims to shift the focus to the origins of the mysterious machine beings.

There were similar ideas a few years ago, as producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura revealed in an interview with Collider. At that time, the main obstacle to an ambitious live-action film about Optimus and Megatron in their younger years was the way too high budget. Exactly this problem could be avoided with an animated film, as the production is significantly cheaper than with lavish action scenes and costly explosions on a physical set.

So now the story of Optimus Prime and Megatron is being adapted into a new format, and we already know who will be dubbing the main characters. "Thor" actor Chris Hemsworth will give his voice to Optimus Prime, while fellow actor and "Atlanta" star Brian Tyree Henry will dub Megatron. With Jon Hamm, Keegan-Michael Key, Laurence Fishburne and Scarlett Johansson, many other Hollywood stars have also been cast.

The theatrical release for "Transformers One" is currently set for July 19, 2024.