We were hoping this might be on the way, and as part of the CCXP celebrations currently taking place in São Paulo, Brazil, Paramount Pictures has finally released the first trailer for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts!
Inspired by the classic "Beast Wars" storyline from the 1990s, the expectation is that this will be the first chapter in a brand new Transformers trilogy. Based on what we see in this sneak peek, it's exactly what fans have been hoping for from this franchise, with an approach more akin to Bumblebee than Michael Bay's glossy take (albeit on an appropriately epic scale).
In the trailer, we learn that the story will revolve around the Maximals and Predacons, Autobots that transform into giant animals. It's clearly going to be a globe-trotting adventure, while also building on the history of this series thanks to the presence of Optimus Prime.
He's obviously on a mission of his own here, and it's one that looks set to shed some light on why he's so determined to protect our planet. As for the villains, those are the Terrorcons, a group of Decepticons who look downright terrifying.
This feels like a soft reboot for the franchise, and based on the battle scenes featured below, it's going to be an old-school Transformers adventure that's fun for new and returning fans alike. Steven Caple Jr. is stepping behind the camera for this one, of course, with the Creed II director working off a screenplay from Joby Harold and James Vanderbilt.
"Returning to the action and spectacle that have captured moviegoers around the world, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will take audiences on a '90s globetrotting adventure with the Autobots and introduce a whole new breed of Transformer – the Maximals – to the existing battle on earth between Autobots and Decepticons," reads the brief synopsis.
As for the cast, that's led by Anthony Ramos, with Dominique Fishback, Luna Lauren Vélez, and Tobe Nwigwe joining him. Peter Cullen will once again lend his voice to Optimus Prime, while Ron Perlman has stepped in to play Optimus Primal, the leader of the Maximals.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is set to be released in theatres on June 9, 2023.