New Film ‘Transformers One’ Explores Origins of Iconic Characters

Actor Chris Hemsworth has revealed that the upcoming film Transformers One will present a “different side” to iconic characters Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Bumblebee. At 41, Hemsworth portrays Optimus Prime, the leader of the Autobots, in the film. In a new twist, the movie will show his character and the antagonist Megatron, played by Brian Tyree Henry, as “friends before they were enemies.” Bumblebee, a fan favorite, will also speak for the first time, adding a unique element to the story.

Speaking at the film’s European premiere in London’s Leicester Square, Hemsworth expressed his enthusiasm for offering fans the opportunity to view these characters in a new light. “I think it’s really interesting to offer fans the chance to see a different side in both of these characters, Megatron and Optimus Prime, even Bumblebee, we haven’t heard that character speak before,” he said. He believes this fresh perspective will provide significant context and depth to the existing Transformers narrative.

Co-star Keegan-Michael Key, who voices Bumblebee, described his character as the “funnest.” “It’s such an honor to play Bumblebee. I mean, of all the characters, I think I get to play the funnest character,” said the 53-year-old. Key acknowledged the pressure of matching the established lore but shared his enjoyment of working with director Josh Cooley for the project. He mentioned that Bumblebee’s silence in previous films allowed audiences to project their feelings onto the character, which is reminiscent of classic silent film characters like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton.

Scarlett Johansson, who plays Elita-1, spoke about the empowering message her character conveys. “The thing I love about Elita is that she knows what her strengths are, and she’s really a born leader,” Johansson said. She emphasized that Elita-1’s ability to lift and bring out the best in those around her is an inspiring quality, particularly for young audiences.

The Transformers franchise originated with a series of robot action figures that could transform into vehicles and other forms, eventually leading to a popular cartoon series in 1984 and a set of live-action films starting in 2007, directed by Michael Bay. The narrative focuses on the conflict between two factions of robots, the heroic Autobots and the villainous Decepticons. Directed by Josh Cooley, Transformers One explores the origins of the saga, highlighting the relationship between Orion Pax and D-16, who later become the legendary rivals Optimus Prime and Megatron.