Japanese entertainment magazine The River, once again sat down with Transformers Live Action Movie Series producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura to discuss the future of the series.

The usual question of whether Transformers: Bumblebee is a Prequel or a Reboot is asked once again; but this time with regards to the statement made by Hasbro during Toy Fair 2019, where it was described as a ‘new storytelling universe’.

It is also implied that the series will now take a similar approach to Warner Bros.’ DC Series course correction; where the attention is given to each individual film while not focusing on a broader “Cinematic Universe”.

Other notable questions:

• Possible return of Travis Knight for the sequel of Transformers: Bumblebee.
• Robot designs.
• Sequel to Transformers: The Last Knight.
• Role of Unicron on future movies.

Due to the length of the interview, we will only be translating the parts highlighting the future of the franchise, and you can read it all, after the jump.

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Speaking to Gamespot, Transformers Live Action Movie Series producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura has stated that the next main Transformers movie, which was announced not too long ago, will be a reboot.

Yes, we couldn’t believe what we are hearing either but, he actually used the ‘R-Word’ this time; after so many months of denying the existence of the term and its implications.

“The main Transformers movie we are working on is a reboot, and I will say that the Bumblebee sequel will be more directly linked to the timeline that we set up.”

So, what about the statement he made in Japan? We can only assume that the Japanese article is a classic situation of ‘lost in translation’. The question was asked in Japanese, it was translated to the producer in English, the producer answered in English, it was translated to Japanese for the journalists and we fans translated the article back to English.

Mr. Di Bonaventura also outlined several details regarding the future of the TF movies. He mentioned that we may see romance, in some form, between the robots.

“One of the things I want to see, and I don’t know if we’ll do this particular thing, but I think we will eventually do a love story between Transformers. What does a love story mean? Definitely not sex, maybe not even kissing, but the idea that they would have that emotional crush has never really been brought in. That’s kind of the direction we’re going to try to head into, which is to give them human desires that, up until now, we haven’t seen much of. I think that will change the relationship with the Transformers. So we may do some wild action, we’ll do action for sure in the main line, but it’s a different kind of attempt. I know we will hold on to a lot of the lessons from Bumblebee.”.

Additional details regarding the two movies in development, can be found after the jump.

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Speaking to Collider during SXSW 2019, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura stated that Transformers: Bumblebee 2 will have a little more ‘Beyhem’ than the first Bumblebee movie.

“…the audience had asked us several times, in different ways, ‘I want to get to know a Transformer better.” We did that. In some respects, definitely a tip to what the audience had said to us. The interesting part is when you set out to do something like that, you don’t exactly know the ramifications of it. In this case, the ramification of it was, for the people who didn’t love the movie, was not enough action. Because you’re telling a more intimate story, therefore you can’t.” stated the producer.

Bumblebee 2 will serve as a buddy movie, featuring Optimus Prime and Bumblebee.

“Several lessons have come out of this. One is that we have the freedom to tell almost any story. The other is that, how strongly the audience identified with the strength of character and emotion. I know the next Transformer, our attempt anyway, is to sort of do a fusion of Bumblebee and the Bay movies…a little more Bayhem. And a little bit more of the character falling in love within the emotional dynamic of the movie. One of the things I want to do—and I hope we pull it off—is, we did it with Bumblebee because he’s so cute and he’s so accessible, but he can’t talk. I think the more human we can make these characters, the more people are going to like them.”

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.

During the press tour for Transformers: Bumblebee in Japan, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura has stated that they have two scripts in development for the Transformers Live Action Movie Franchise.

“One is the latest in the main family series following the events of Transformers: The Last Knight and the other is a sequel to Bumblebee.” says Lorenzo.

While not much is revealed for the TLK sequel, the Bumblebee one however, is a ‘buddy movie’ featuring Optimus Prime and Bumblebee as the main protagonists.

Paramount has not set any release date for either movies but we expect them to arrive before October 2022; prior to the expiration of the current contract between Hasbro and Paramount.

Additionally, we have learned a little bit more about the contract and according to the document, Paramount must develop at least 1 live action movie based on any Hasbro property per year, up to a maximum of two. In addition to that, they can produce 1 animated movie per year if they chose to do so. This does not affect the number of live action movies per year.

At the moment, there are no Transformers titles (Live Action or Animated) planned until October 2021.

More details can be found, after the jump.

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Ahead of the release of Transformers: Bumblebee in Japan, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura spoke to the press regarding the possibility of a Transformers: Beast Wars Live Action Movie.

According to Mr. Bonaventura, the movie is estimated to cost $450 million to make and the investors are not too keen to invest on a high risk project costing nearly half a million to make.

If this becomes a reality, the movie will become the highest budgeted movie in Hollywood, says the producer.

According to industry calculations, the movie should make $ 1.125 billion just to reach the break-even value; an impossible odd considering the trend for the series nowadays. This is just from the production budget alone. Combine that with the marketing budget and the value will skyrocket to an impossible target.

The producer is also skeptical about the familiarity of Beast Wars among the general public. “How many people knows Beast Wars?” says Lorenzo, adding further fuel to the fire.

Despite the negativity, Lorenzo states that he and Hasbro wishes to see a fruitful outcome for Beast Wars.

In conclusion, the report from The River states that the future of the project is ‘undecided’.

Transformers: Bumblebee is among 20 other movie for year 2018 to receive the ReFrame Stamp, which recognizes standout, gender-balanced films.

The stamp, launched last June, awarded 12 film stamps in 2017. But the group’s 2018 study found continued disparities in female representation and women of color, with just 4% of the top 100 films directed by a female (down from 6% a year ago), and 23% written by a female. A total of 37% featured female leads, with only 9% being women of color.

Full list of award winners can be found, after the jump.

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