Speaking to The River, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura stated that their previously planned Optimus Prime solo movie has been halted and Bumblebee-Optimus Prime buddy movie will take its place.
The producer has stated that making an Optimus Prime movie is like making an Obi-Wan Kenobi movie, and it cannot be done.
“I do not intend to do Optimus’ solo film. In the sequel to Bumblebee, I’m thinking of two characters, Optimus and Bumblebee. That way, Bumblebee can do something with Optimus.”
Lorenzo has stated that the buddy movie will most probably be like Lethal Weapon. He also mentioned that Optimus’ role will mostly be like Danny Glover‘s character of Roger Murtaugh.
“When I heard that the movie ‘Bumblebee’ will be made, I was wondering what Optimus would think. Bumblebee was supposed to be Optimus’ sidekick. That’s why I want to write about Optimus as I drew him in Bumblebee in detail.”
Mr. di Bonaventura concluded the interview by saying that he wants to humanize Optimus; very much like how Bumblebee was portrayed on Transformers: Bumblebee.
Night Flame
Fully agreed. Unfortunately, when the franchise was built around Lorenzo and Bay, the disdain for the fans was so blatant as to be nauseating. At least at this point we've seen what it's like to have a director that knows and understands us. Now if they would just replace this character we might be on to something.
hthrun
I'd prefer explosive action, coherent wholesome storytelling, and no sexual innuendo. I don't really care about "heart"…
Hanzkaz
What he actually means is saying is 'We can't do it, so it can't be done'.
The problem is he wants people to look forward to the kinds of films he wants, not the ones they want.
Music
Yes, definitely not denying the fact he's terrible at his job. I was just describing how he should be behaving towards the fandom.
Night Flame
Then he really sucks at his job because he's two-faced his way into being completely unbelievable no matter what he says.
flux convoy
If he's actually saying THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE TRANSFORMER in the brand is a hard sell, he needs a new job.
Autobot Burnout
Broken Clocks are right at least twice a day y'know.
Music
I mean, isn't that the point? Since he's the de facto PR guy at Paramount, he should be saying things people want to hear. It's part of his job to hype up future films.
Hanzkaz
They're trying to go with the 'easier' option. Paramount probably reckons that a Prime/Bumblebee buddy movie would be easier to sell than a solo Prime movie.
Bonaventura, their PR guy, decides to tell us that a solo Optimus movie 'can't be done' so we won't keep asking for one.
Fans had been told for years that 'a balanced action Transformers flick with heart and coherent wholesome story telling' wasn't possible or even necessary. As far as Paramount was concerned, anyone who wanted something like that was being unrealistic.
SillyMcGilly
Well I'm sure glad they're wrong then.
Purple Heart
Yet anytime he says a word people want to hear, the whole thread celebrates.
deathzero23
I think they're just making a "place holder" of sorts.
I don't hate Bay. But as time goes on, his TF films getting worse on the story telling aspect. So much for having a Writers Room hell TLK underperformed.
So what happened to film goers today?
They preferred Explosive Action, incoherent plot with Sexual Innuendos than a balanced action flick with heart and coherent wholesome story telling?
flux convoy
This guy sure does talk a lot yet says nothing of any use.
Soundwave338
"The producer has stated that making an Optimus Prime movie is like making an Obi-Wan Kenobi movie, and it cannot be done."
Um…I strongly disagree. There is so much to Optimus' backstory that could fill a movie. They'd actually be spoiled for choice as to WHICH backstory they chose to follow. I defiantly think Prime deserves his own movie, so people can understand where he came from and why he is the way he is. Not to mention the possibility of establishing his relationship with Megatron.
That being said, I do think a "buddy cop" movie with Prime and Bumblebee could work…but I'd much rather see a Prime origin movie
Berser Car
Maybe it's part of his job to be disliked? Maybe it's to avoid blaming Bay or more stuff or something? Or to keep Steven Spielbergs rep? I don't know.
Anyways, here is my idea for a Bumblebee 2, Optimus solo movie, Last Knight sequel or Optimus/Bumblebee movie:
Just Optimus, a trailer full of newborn protoforms, Route 66, maybe Bumblebee as a scout/bodyguard, maybe a human "driver" just in case, and Stunticons. All the classic Stunticons, plus Offroad, Blackjack, and even Barricade because he's always around. They Stunticons will be voiced by the cast of the Fast n Furious movies, with Motormaster being Dwayne Johnson and Menasor voiced by Vin Diesel. That movie would write itself.
Windsweeper II
These interview articles are getting increasingly hilarious.
Hanzkaz
And apparently you can't do an Obi-Wan movie, either. I normally try to be polite but is anyone else getting the impression that Bonaventura is coming across as a moron?
If everyone had that attitude, we'd never have had a Marvel Cinematic Universe or a Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
There D Hood
I don't know why this guy and Avi Arad over at Sony are allowed to speak. Whenever they say anything regarding the respective franchises they work with, it equates to:
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KnightHawkke
What the heck do you mean you can't make an Optimus Prime movie?? Did those folks not watch Captain America one and two? Did they learn nothing about telling the classical "Boy Scout" story? Just watch the video that was done on Cap1 on the Movie Trivia Schmoedown Youtube channel, it spells it out for you! It holds your hand through it!
The thing you have to remember when making a true uncorruptable hero film is you HAVE to have a villain WORTHY of that kind of character, and an environment where they can honestly exist! You can't completely artificially stack the narrative against it with see-through plot contrivances like Man of Steel did. Optimus HAS his Megatron. BUT you have to write him with ACTUAL intelligence and not a mumbling, drooling buffoon. Red Skull wasn't presented perfectly in Cap1 but he was presented just strong enough to compliment Steve's own inner battles with an outside motivation and pushing force to create a compelling conflit. I'm sorry IDW didn't learn the lesson from First Avenger either about that character build, it was a true shame. There is NO reason you couldn't present a strong film with Optimus as the lead if you have competent writers and a solid story.
If you're going to be rebooting and or soft rebooting or prebooting or wtfever it's called these days there is plenty of opportunity in the various iterations of Prime's history to throw together a story on par with the birth of Captain America in a Transformers setting!
Mr.Deflok
The Last Knight is the film version of Bonaventura's mouth.