Summary
The comparison to J.R.R. Tolkien’s extensive lore by director Josh Cooley atSan Diego Comic-Conmakes me even more excited aboutTransformers One. TheTransformersfranchise has always, to me, had fascinating story potential. The live-action movies have showcased the power and magnitude of these characters. Despite this,that potential never truly felt unlocked for me, as so much of the war between the Autobots and Decepticons was left unexplored.Therefore, when Cooley started givingupdates onTransformers Oneduring the first big panel at Comic-Con, I was beyond excited.
Transformers One’s timelinewill take place years before the rest of the franchise.It will feature Orion Pax, aka Optimus Prime (Chris Hemsworth,) and D-16, aka Megatron (Brian Tyree Henry,) long before we know them, adding to the franchise’s backstory in a sorely needed way. The story follows their friendship, which, due to the mounting war on Cybertron, begins to shatter as their new transformation powers arise. The prospect of getting this deep dive into these characters is so exciting to me, especially as Cooley hinted at how the lore will be explored through his Tolkien comparison.
20 Movies & TV Show Panels To Look Forward To At SDCC 2024
San Diego Comic-Con 2024 runs from July 25 through 28 and features a multitude of panels celebrating movies and television, both classic and new.
Josh Cooley’s J.R.R. Tolkien Comparison Makes Me More Excited For Transformers One
Cooley’s Comment Suggests The Lore Is Lengthy And Detailed
Cooley’s comment onTransformers One’s lore at San Diego Comic-Con 2024makes me excited to see more story through this Tolkien comparison.Screen RantheardCooley state,“Hasbro gave me the Bible of Transformers. It’s Tolkien length.…".He also stated that he hoped to bring some nostalgia back into the franchise, saying"I really wanted a feeling of what it’s like to play with the toys as a kid.”As a Tolkien fan, this comparison is great, as Tolkien is known for his rich world-building. If that Bible is that detailed, then the story will be quite rich.
Cooley’s connection to the franchise means thatTransformers Onecould be the first movieto really dig into these characters and the world they reside in before coming to Earth. Through this extensive lore, we can see just how this war reached such intergalactic limits and the root of many of these conflicts.This is especially important for this film to get right as it could impact the franchise’s already tenuous future,a fact that the creators ofTransformers One, through this comment, seem very aware of.
Hasbro’s Bible Of Transformers Gives Me Hope That The Prequel Will Be Done Right
The Prequel’s Strong Story Could Address Issues With Past Movies
Hasbro’s Bible ofTransformerslore gives me hope that the prequel will be done right, allowingTransformers Oneto break the patternof minimal storytelling in the franchise. WhileTransformers Oneis the first animated feature the franchise has had since 1986, theTransformersworldhas still been explored through the Michael Bay films. However, those films have underperformed,with the last installment,Transformers: The Rise of the Beastsmaking only over $400 million at the box office in comparison to earlier films' box offices of over $1 billion.
This is why theTransformers One’s Hasboro Bible comment comes as such a relief to me: it demonstrates that the creators have seen the reviews and are taking audience feedback into account.
According toRotten Tomatoes, a big reason why was due to the poor storytelling.Audiences felt that the laterTransformersmovies depended too much on the special effects and action,giving little time for exploration of character motivations and exposition. This is why theTransformers One’s Hasbro Bible comment comes as such a relief to me: it demonstrates that the creators have seen the reviews and are taking audience feedback into account. That consideration is going to be an important factor in the movie’s success as the origin story we have been waiting for unfolds.
Why Nailing Transformers One’s Lore Is So Important For The Movie’s Success
Transformers One Needs To Nail Optimus Prime’s And Megatron’s Friendship
Transformers One’s lore is so important for its success because it can enrich an incredibly popular story alongside its two most well-known characters. The rivalry between Optimus Prime and Megatron is one of the key factors of the franchise and key footholds in the zeitgeist.How and why they hate each other so deeply is never explained, but the animosity is felt very keenly in eachTransformersproperty.Optimus Prime and Megatron’s story, then, becomes the main element the movie needs to nail to be successful, as any lore inconsistencies can damage that audience excitement and story build-up.
Alongside this, nailing the lore could finally create a sense of unity in theTransformersfranchise.Many of the live-action films feel too isolated from each other,considering they are meant to be a part of the same universe.Transformers Onecould change this, connecting the pieces of history we have into something more cohesive. It may be a tall order, but this film’s lore reveal will hopefully be a promise thatSan Diego Comic Con 2024’s panelmakes good on.
Transformers One
Cast
Transformers One is an animated action-adventure movie that marks the first animated feature-length film for the series in decades. The film will be a prequel to the franchise, and will tell the story of Optimus Prime and Megatron in their early years, how they met, and a closer look at the war on their home planet, Cybertron.
