Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is finally playing in theaters, and while we've already broken down that big crossover in the movie's closing moments, it's time to dive into some of the other surprises.
Every Autobot and Decepticon has its fair share of fans, so the death of one of them is always a huge deal in these movies. Well, there are some casualties in Rise of the Beasts, and a pretty significant demise comes fairly early on.
Apelinq is introduced as Optimus Primal's mentor, and while the character has plenty of history in the Transformers franchise's comic books, he wasn't part of the beloved Transformers: Beast Wars TV series this movie takes so much inspiration from.
Alas, when Scourge arrives on the Maximals' planet looking for the Trans Warp Key, he lays waste to Apelinq in what ends up being a heroic sacrifice for the character.
A more familiar Beast Wars character who also meets their maker during the course of this adventure is the bird-like Airazor. Infected by Scourge, she loses her mind and leaves Optimus Primal with no other choice than to kill her when she attacks the movie's humans.
Bumblebee and Mirage are also killed by Scourge, though the former is resurrected by Energon and the latter is given the chance to live and fight another day courtesy of what plays out in the mid-credits scene.
By now, you're probably hoping that Scourge gets what's coming to him and, yes, he's taken out by Optimus Prime (who makes good on his promise to hold the villain's head in his hands). Unicron, however, survives and will likely be the big bad of the planned Transformers/G.I. Joe crossover.
"Returning to the action and spectacle that have captured moviegoers around the world," reads the blockbuster's synopsis, "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."
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is set to be released in U.S. theatres on June 9.