Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

***Transformers: Rise of the Beasts*** is an upcoming American science fiction action film based on Hasbro's *Transformers* toy line and primarily influenced by the *Beast Wars* storyline. The film is the seventh installment in the *Transformers* film series and a standalone sequel to *Bumblebee* (2018). The film is directed by Steven Caple Jr. from a screenplay by Joby Harold, Darnell Metayer, Josh Peters, Erich Hoeber, and Jon Hoeber. It will star Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Luna Lauren Vélez and Tobe Nwigwe in his film debut, as well the voice talents of Ron Perlman, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Pete Davidson, Liza Koshy, Cristo Fernández, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Tongayi Chirisa, and previous voice actors, Peter Cullen, John DiMaggio and David Sobolov.

Following the critical and commercial success of *Bumblebee*, Paramount and Hasbro announced a sequel in early 2019. In November 2020, Caple was hired as director for the film. By 2021, Ramos and Fishback were cast in the lead human roles, and details for the film were revealed that summer in a virtual event held by Paramount. Michael Bay, who directed the first five live-action *Transformers* films and produced *Bumblebee*, once again serves as producer. In a first for the franchise, both the human leads and the film's director are persons of color. Principal photography took place from June to October 2021, with filming locations including Los Angeles, Peru, Montreal, and New York City.

*Transformers: Rise of the Beasts* is scheduled to be released in the United States on June 9, 2023, by Paramount Pictures.

## Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

### Genre

Adventure
Action
Drama

### Produced by

Don Murphy
Michael Bay

## Premise

In 1994, a pair of archaeologists from Brooklyn come into an ancient conflict through a globe-trotting adventure with the Autobots that ties in with three factions of the Transformers race: the Maximals, the Predacons and the Terrorcons.

## Cast

* Anthony Ramos as Noah Diaz
* Dominique Fishback as Elena Wallace
* Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime
* Ron Perlman as Optimus Primal
* Lauren Vélez as Noah's mother
* Tobe Nwigwe as Reek
* Peter Dinklage as Scourge
* Pete Davidson as Mirage
* Liza Koshy as Arcee
* Cristo Fernández as Wheeljack
* John DiMaggio as Stratosphere
* Michelle Yeoh as Airazor
* David Sobolov as Rhinox

## Production

### Development

In December 2018, when asked about the future of the *Transformers* franchise, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura stated that another big *Transformers* film "would be produced" and that it would be "different than the ones that we've done before." He described the process as more of an "evolution," saying that there is more freedom to create and what they can do with it. After the success of *Bumblebee* that year, he said that the series would make some changes in tone and style, inspired by the film. *Bumblebee* director Travis Knight said his goal was to return to his animation studio, Laika, though he acknowledged that he has a few ideas for a sequel. John Cena expressed interest in reprising his role in a sequel. Writer Christina Hodson said that "[she] knows where [she wants] to go with the next one". In late January 2019, a sequel was announced. In March, di Bonaventura confirmed they were developing a script for a *Bumblebee* sequel.

In January 2020, Paramount Pictures was reportedly working on two different *Transformers* films, one written by James Vanderbilt and another written by Joby Harold. In November, Steven Caple Jr. was hired to direct Harold's script. In February 2021, it was revealed that the film was going under the working title *Transformers: Beast Alliance*, hinting the introduction of characters from the *Beast Wars* franchise. During a virtual event held by Paramount in June, di Bonaventura and Caple revealed the official title as *Transformers: Rise of the Beasts* (revealing to be both a *Bumblebee* sequel and *Beast Wars* film in one), and confirming that it would feature the Maximals, the Predacons, and a new take on the Terrorcons. The visual effects for the *Transformers* and *Beast Wars* characters were provided by the Moving Picture Company, rather than Industrial Light and Magic from the previous installments. The film's tone and action were heavily influenced by *Terminator 2: Judgment Day* (1991).

### Casting

In April 2021, Anthony Ramos was cast for the lead role in the film. Later that month, Dominique Fishback was cast opposite Ramos. It was also revealed that Darnell Metayer and Josh Peters had been hired to rewrite Harold's screenplay. Ultimately, Harold, Metayer, Peters, along with Erich and Jon Hoeber received screenplay credit, with Harold solely receiving story credit, while Ken Nolan, Tony Rettenmaier, Juel Taylor, and Vanderbilt received "additional literary material" credit off-screen.

In June, actress Lauren Vélez revealed that she has a role in the sequel. In the same month, Peter Cullen was confirmed to return as Optimus Prime for the film, and Ron Perlman was announced to be reprising his role as Optimus Primal from the *Power of the Primes* web series a week later. In July, Tobe Nwigwe revealed that he had a role in the film. In October 2022, Caple Jr. revealed that Michelle Yeoh and Pete Davidson will voice Airazor and Mirage, respectively, in the film.

On December 1, 2022, additional members of the voice cast were announced, consisting of Peter Dinklage as the film's antagonist Scourge, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez as the female Terrorcon Nightbird, Liza Koshy as Arcee, who is replacing voice actress Grey DeLisle from both *Bumblebee* and *Revenge of the Fallen*, Cristo Fernández as Wheeljack, and returning voice actors John DiMaggio and David Sobolov from previous installments in newer dual roles. DiMaggio voices both Stratosphere, an Autobot that originated from the toyline of *Revenge of the Fallen* and the *Dark of the Moon* video game from 2009–2011, and Transit, a Terrorcon that turns into a school bus. While Sobolov, being the sole cast member from the *Beast Wars* animated series, voices both the Maximal Rhinox and the Terrorcon Battletrap.

Caple revealed that more members of the voice cast will be revealed in the coming months and expressed interest to bring Mahershala Ali to provide voice work. On April 6, 2023, two months before the film's release, Tongayi Chirisa was announced to be voicing the Maximal Cheetor.

### Filming

Principal photography began on June 7, 2021, in Los Angeles. Filming also took place in parts of Peru such as Machu Picchu, Cusco, Tarapoto, San Martín Montreal and Brooklyn. On October 20, it was announced that filming had officially wrapped.