Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner explained the future of Transformers Live Action Movies in excessive detail during today’s panel at the 34th Annual Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference. David Beckel who conducted the Q&A Session, knew exactly what to ask. TFW2005 is happy to deliver a transcript for all our fans:
“Question: Speaking of future production slate, just recently I think one of your Transformers films was removed from Paramount’s 2019 Release Schedule. What is the the rationale behind that and what should the investors read into that move?
Answer: So, really in some ways it’s just the fact that we were able to get Bumblebee movie out in 2018, so that’ll come out this Christmas; which means the home entertainment window will happen in 2019.
With the new [Paramount] management team and the partnership with Paramount gave us an opportunity to step back from the Michael Bay chronology of the films that have been out there in the market and look at new storytelling.
So, rather than putting another movie out to the market in 2019 we wanted to take a beat and develop across a couple different possible creative directions and then you’ll see, certainly, a raft of great Transformers films in the future. So I would read nothing into that except that Bumblebee will be in the market over the next year. We felt it was a good moment in time when we could again re-frame the creative direction of Transforms.
Question: What is it about the existing direction that is most needed to be re-framed, so to speak?
Answer: Look, I think what you’re going to see in the movie, which I’m thrilled about, we’ve already done some early testing around the movie, is the heart and humanity that comes back to the Autobots, in this in this case through Bumblebee who is one of the most beloved characters by both fans and kids around the world and you get a bit of a peak at his origin story. There’s a great relationship that exists between him and our star Hailee Steinfeld.
It gives us a chance to hearken back a bit to that first Transformers film that we all love; the awe inspiring nature of the boy and his car. The car’s turns out to be a robot involved in an alien war. It was a kind of a fun premise and we want to get back to that heart, humor and humanity. And we think we have a way to do that with this film. And I think that over time as films continue to build on themselves, you get a lot of action but you also want to make sure that you’re developing characters and story alongside of that and that’s what this intends to do.
Question: Is ‘Reboot’ the correct term?
Answer: I don’t think it’s a reboot because it is an alternative; a different chronology. So, rather than going to a sequel from what people had seen last time, this takes place in the 1980s. It’s a really fun era, people love the music, they love that time and place, and it was a great place to put Bumblebee because for our fans, everyone knows that the Transformers were originally created in the mid-eighties, so it gives you a chance to hearken back to the things that people loved about the brand. And a chance to enjoy the brand, kind of from the beginning again. But I wouldn’t really consciously go into it saying “Let’s reboot the franchise”. There wasn’t any of that. We just felt that the story naturally came as a result of some of the work that we have done.”
There you have it folks; the final say by the toy giant himself.
Dinobot Snarl
For the first time I'm excited about movie figures.
jerichoholic99
A bit late to the party, but the way I'm seeing it is this: Bumblebee is simultaneously in two distinct timelines: the narrative as spelled out by the five Bay films, and the new direction they're taking the live action franchise into 2019 and beyond. I.e., the same way the original and prequel Star Wars trilogies are both Canon and Legends simultaneously.
Magnum Dongus
If this is really, truly, a reboot, I SERIOUSLY hope that they do away with Bee's muteness very quickly. And along with that, give him a proper mouth.
convoy84
I'll bet he already knows about it, but even though it deals with PYTs and cars, the way they go about it probably drove him away.
RodimusSupreme
I imagine any profitible success with this movie will cause them to keep Travis Knight around for as long as possible.
Aw man. If they use G1 characters, maybe it's Dead End? STUNTICONS, PERHAPS?!?!?!
iuJacob
Yes, the red car had a Decepticon logo on it. However, the Knockout rumour was debunked a few months ago. The guy that ‘leaked’ it on 4chan later admitted he made it up. It’s too bad. I really like Knockout.
Night Flame
With the disappointing performance of the Last Knight, if the Bumblebee movie makes bank I would bet on Knight being lined up to stay with the franchise for a while.
RodimusSupreme
…The multiverse is dying. We must act fast!!! QUICK, DISAGREE ON SOMETHING TO RESTORE BALANCE!!!!
Pretty sure it was confirmed that that red muscle car is a Decepticon (I hope it's Knock Out!).
WishfulThinking
Pretty certain it's Barricade and Cliffjumper. Remember the red hot rod that's shown up on sets several times?
Dinobot Snarl
How….howw….huuuu,
how can we be in any agreement. How is this possible?
GizmoTron
An Oscar winning film features a relationship between a woman and a fish man, and the billion dollar Avengers movies feature a woman in a relationship with an Android. Even if it's not Atari and an Autotrooper, it's still only a matter of time before we get stories like "The Girl Who Loved Powerglide" taken to the next level.
That being said, there's nothing to worry about here with this movie. The Bumblebee movie will obviously be more E.T. than the Shape of Water.
RodimusSupreme
NO NO NO NO NO NO!!! *Sits in corner*
@Dinobot Snarl It was awesome, as usual. Love the look of this Decepticon Seeker (whoever the heck they are), and Bumblebee, as was mentioned in another thread, does kind of make me think they mixed Animated with G1, Movies, and Games as well. I feel like the Seeker pulls from the WFC/FOC games, and the way the cockpit/nosecone seems to sit in robot mode, it kind of reminds me of the Transformers 2007 Breakaway toy's body design. And of course with a sprinkle of G1 to give that 80's nostalgia. Someone else (again, in another thread) mentioned that the Seeker seems to be an F-4, which is cool that they kept the jet in the F-whatever line of jets. Now I REALLY want to see the other two bots that are stated to be in the movie!!! Based on rumors and potential behind the scenes claims, I'd say the last two Transformers in the movie are Barricade and Optimus Prime, but
GOD I HOPE THIS IS A REBOOT!!! It would be a shame to have these awesome looking new designs, and then a reboot happens after this movie, and everything is changed again. BRING IT ON, HASBRO!!!!
Music
In regards to Optimus, this should be a good sign:
DarkEyes
Oh my…. nothing more awesome than return to the 80s!
Shin Densetsu
Hoping future movies are more in line with what Travis Knight came up with for the Bumblebee movie than the Old Bay movies.
I don't mind if Optimus looks more G1 in Transformers 6 if it ever happens, where he fights a 1986 looking Unicron.
dCon
Oh cool I like Smart Asses lol
GizmoTron
There are mountains of worse shit in the world than Kiss Players, just not usually in this franchise (at least officially). Which is why it's understandable that people take issue every time it sneaks back into TF lore from Takara.
Arguably, it actually is. Or at least can be, if approached correctly and with care, everything about Kiss Players could be done again in a way that receives critical acclaim, least of all the romantic relationship between a bot and human. I mean you can say the concept has never worked well in TF history and can never advance too deeply with something so silly as Transformers, but we are living in a world where a movie about woman falling in love with a sea monster has won Oscars.
Hanzkaz
I can't believe I about forgot Kiss Players. Maybe I need to rethink my earlier statement…..
Dinobot Snarl
@RodimusSupreme I like what I'm seeing in this trailer. How are you feeling about it?