Earlier today, Paramount Pictures launched the first trailer for Transformers One from outer space (well, just outside the stratosphere).
The CG-animated prequel tells the story of Optimus Prime (then known as Orion Pax) and Megatron (then named D-16) before they became sworn enemies as leaders of their respective Transformer factions, the Autobots and Decepticons.
Voice actors Chris Hemsworth (Pax) and Brian Tyree Henry (D-16) introduce the trailer, which reveals that the two then-friends started out as simple worker bots, unable to transform into their vehicle and weapon forms. As they assemble a group of fellow warriors to do battle against a mysterious, plant-like villain, they gain the ability to become "Robots in Disguise."
During an interview with Screen Rant, director Josh Cooley explained how this version of the Transformers' home planet, Cybertron, will differ from previous interpretations.
"Yeah, that was one of the things that got me really excited about this film from the very beginning. We've never seen Cybertron when things are going well. We were always seeing it when it's dying or falling apart or about to blow up, and they have to leave to go to Earth. Knowing that their entire planet is made of metal - which is fascinating, because I've never seen that before on screen and wonder what that looks like - I was excited to to see what that could be. And also just to see what looks like everything's going great.
"We looked at all the different versions of Cybertron, how it's been depicted, and we're going, 'How can we make ours different but also stay true to it? And also cool and someplace you want to be?' Because, actually Cybertron is what's at stake for their entire species. They want to stay there, and they're fighting for it later on. You want to love this place and want to be there as an audience member."
Other cast members include Scarlett Johansson as Elita, Keegan-Michael Key as Bumblebee, Jon Hamm as Sentinel Prime and Laurence Fishburne as Alpha Trion.
Check out the trailer below along with a new poster, and let us know what you think in the comments section.
"The first trailer for TRANSFORMERS ONE is debuting like no movie trailer ever has: In Space! This long-awaited origin story of how the most iconic characters in the TRANSFORMERS universe, Orion Pax and D-16, went from brothers-in-arms to become sworn enemies, Optimus Prime and Megatron, debuted its trailer on Thursday, April 18th.
The launch kicked off at 6am PT with a live-streamed countdown showing the journey into space. After one hour, the craft reached its peak at 125,000 feet above the Earth, revealing the trailer with a custom introduction video from our stars: Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry."
"TRANSFORMERS ONE is the untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, better known as sworn enemies, but once were friends bonded like brothers who changed the fate of Cybertron forever. In the first-ever fully CG-animated Transformers movie, TRANSFORMERS ONE features a star-studded voice cast, including Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, with Laurence Fishburne, and Jon Hamm."