Primordial
Autobots, assemble: Paramount has released a trailer for “Transformers One,” the animated prequel film led by the voices of Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry and Scarlett Johansson.
Hemsworth voices young Optimus Prime, when he was known as Orion Pax. Henry was D-16, before becoming Optimus’ rival, Megatron. The trailer shows the two starting out as simple worker robots, unable to transform into anything. But soon, they gain the ability to transform into vehicles and acquire weapons, as a battle against a mysterious plant-like villain unfolds on the Transformers’ home planet, Cybertron.
Other cast members include Johansson as Elita, Keegan-Michael Key as Bumblebee, Jon Hamm as Sentinel Prime, and Laurence Fishburne as Alpha Trion. Hemsworth and Henry presented a first look at the prequel film on April 11 at CinemaCon.
The franchise first hit the big screen with an animated film in 1986 before director Michael Bay launched a live-action series in 2007 with stars Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox in “Transformers.” The film grossed $700 million at the box office and spawned five sequels and a spin-off. “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts,” the most recent film, debuted last summer and grossed $439 million at the worldwide box office.
Bay directed the first five live-action films, with Travis Knight taking over for 2018’s “Bumblebee” and Steven Caple Jr. helming “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.”
Steven Spielberg is executive producer of “Transformers One” with Brian Goldner, Brian Oliver, Bradley J. Fischer and Valerii An. Producers include Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Tom DeSanto, Don Murphy, Michael Bay, Mark Vahradian and Aaron Dem.
“Toy Story 4” filmmaker Josh Cooley is directing “Transformers One.” Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari wrote the screenplay for the prequel.
“Transformers One” is scheduled to hit theaters on September 20.
Watch the trailer below.