The Vision for a Transformers One Trilogy
After achieving critical acclaim, the director of Transformers One, Josh Cooley, is hinting at the possibility of a trilogy. As a prequel to the entire Transformers franchise, this animated film delves into the origins of the friendship between Optimus Prime (voiced by Chris Hemsworth) and Megatron (voiced by Brian Tyree Henry), ultimately exploring the events that led to their infamous rivalry. The film also unveils the story of how a group of underappreciated robots gained the ability to transform. Garnering an impressive 88% Tomatometer score and a 98% Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes, the installment has been well-received by audiences.
In an insightful conversation with TheWrap, Cooley expressed his aspiration for the movie to evolve into a trilogy. After years of portraying the Autobots and Decepticons’ battles on Earth, Cooley pondered the origins of their conflict and the reasons for their arrival on Earth. His vision includes eventually showcasing the war that annihilated Cybertron and all the challenges Optimus Prime faced before bringing the fight to Earth. Below is his complete statement:
Understanding Cooley’s Vision for Transformers One
Expanding the Transformers One Narrative
Although Transformers One has just hit theaters, a sequel, let alone a trilogy, has yet to be confirmed. Paramount is likely to evaluate the film’s box office performance, which currently appears to be underwhelming. Despite a production budget of $75 million, the film is projected to earn only $26 million over the opening weekend. To break even, it will need to generate at least $150 million, a figure that seems out of reach unless positive word-of-mouth boosts attendance in its second week. Streaming platforms could offer an alternative route to success, but that opportunity remains months away.
The narrative depth of Cybertron’s downfall has never been explored adequately in the film series.
Cooley’s insights are crucial for shaping the franchise’s potential trajectory. The detailed depiction of Cybertron’s destruction has been conspicuously absent in previous films, despite being central to the saga. While the wars that drove the robots to Earth are compelling, they remain a largely untapped aspect of the story due to the high costs associated with a full-scale portrayal. Cooley’s comments underscore his ambition and outline a prospective future for the franchise, particularly after Megatron hinted that the story was far from over in the post-credits scene of Transformers One.
Our Perspective on the Transformers One Trilogy
Animation as a Strategic Choice
Creating a live-action depiction of Cybertron’s downfall would be prohibitively expensive, rendering a comprehensive portrayal unlikely. However, animation presents a more feasible alternative, significantly reducing costs and enabling a faithful representation of the catastrophic wars. It also provides a platform for an in-depth exploration of Megatron’s gradual decline following the poignant ending of Transformers One. Should the prequel gain sufficient popularity, Cooley has already mapped out the franchise’s future, promising to explore a previously uncharted narrative.
Source: TheWrap
Transformers One
- Animation
- Action
- Adventure
- Sci-Fi
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.
