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'Bumblebee' Spinoff Rounds out Cast with a Few Fresh Faces — Can a Solo Film Transform the Franchise?

The upcoming Bumblebee will kickstart the TCU (rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?)

By Ghezal AmiriPublished 6 years ago 2 min read
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'Transformers' [Credit: Paramount Pictures]

Despite the latest installment of the Transformers series, The Last Knight, failing to achieve the same financial feats as its predecessors, the franchise as a whole has totaled over $3 billion. Audiences have long adored the Michael Bay-powered depictions of robotic violence, which will continue with an upcoming slate of prequels and spinoffs forming the Transformers Cinematic Universe.

The upcoming #Bumblebee will kickstart the TCU (rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?) and we now have the names of the young cast that will lead the #Transformers spinoff. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Jason Drucker (Diary of a Wimpy Kid), Abby Quinn (Landline), Rachel Crow (Rio 2), Ricardo Hoyos (Degrassi: Next Class) and Gracie Dzienny (Zoo) are all in various stages of negotiations.

While these names may not necessarily be household ones yet, others who are involved in the production — and the rumored plot details of the film — definitely generate some sense of intrigue... As much intrigue as a Transformers spinoff may ever generate.

The Bumblebee prequel/spinoff will also star Jorge Lendeborg, Jr. and the incredibly talented Hailee Steinfeld, who exceeded all expectations in last year's The Edge Of Seventeen. As we've seen time and time again, a great cast is never a promise for an equally great movie (as evidenced by Sir Anthony Hopkins, whose wallet miraculously wandered its way into the latest Transformers). The addition of Steinfeld is a major advantage for those interested in her phenomenal work, hoping to see her in a big-budget blockbuster.

'Bumblebee' Has The Power To Successfully Usher In A New Audience For Transformers

[Credit: Paramount Pictures]

When it comes to the past decade of Michael Bay's "critic-proof" Transformers films, I haven't been a fan myself — however, I do enjoy hearing the sheer joy it brings to many moviegoers. Audiences may be growing tired of witnessing the same bombastic visual junk (with little focus on having any sort of emotional core), but even the biggest naysayers may admit that the first installment with Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox wasn't that bad.

Truly the relationships depicted between the otherworldly metallic species appealed more to certain audience members than any of the human characters.

The director for the film is frankly why I'm as excited as I am. Travis Knight's directorial debut was last year's criminally under-appreciated Kubo And The Two Strings — an example of an "original" movie people clamor for yet never take the time to watch. Besides all the brilliant components of that stop-motion picture, what Knight managed to accomplish with the emotional aspect of Kubo (and its enchanting world) made it as great as it was; hopefully that brilliance is recaptured in Bumblebee.

Plot details have not been released officially yet. However, the rumors sound next to perfect — Bumblebee will serve as a prequel to the main film series and focus on Bumblebee's life during the 1980s. The film will follow Steinfeld's character and a group of her friends as they team up to help Bumblebee. Watching a straight prequel for one of the greatest autobots in the franchise set during an exhilarating time period with a (hopefully) talented young cast? Call me crazy but sign me up!

Bumblebee is slated for a June 8th, 2018 release and if it does well, expect 14 more Transformers spinoffs that will most likely range from When Optimus Prime Visited The DMV to Whatever Happened To Sam Witwicky's Parents?

(Source: The Hollywood Reporter)

Are you looking forward for next year's Bumblebee? Why or why not? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

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About the Creator

Ghezal Amiri

Afghan-Canadian writer who enjoys witty quips and BTS, proper grammar and Jodie Comer.

I tweet with @MrsBananaPhone because it's the best and beats the rest.

I also have designs: https://www.teepublic.com/user/designingsimple

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