All Upcoming Transformers Movies Explained

Paramount has big plans for the future of Transformers, with many fans already looking ahead to see what the next Transformers movie is after Transformers One. Michael Bay helped launch the Transformers franchise in 2007 with stars Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox. Although Fox left after just two films, LaBeouf’s Sam Witwicky remained the focus for the first trilogy. During this era, the series achieved peak popularity, as Transformers: Dark of the Moon made more than $1.1 billion at the box office worldwide (via Box Office Mojo).

Transformers entered a new era without LaBeouf with Transformers: Age of Extinction. Mark Wahlberg became the new face of the Transformers movies, and he returned to star in Transformers: The Last Knight, which proved to be the end of Michael Bay’s time with the franchise. 2018 saw Bumblebee hit theaters with Hailee Steinfeld in the lead, followed by another prequel movie, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, with Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback. While the franchise recently moved into animation with Transformers One, there are plenty more big plans for the franchise ahead.

Transformers 8 (Release Date TBD)

The Sequel To Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts

Paramount has already confirmed that Transformers 8 is in the works as part of a new trilogy that Transformers: Rise of the Beasts kicked off. Details on the eighth movie are scarce at the moment. It is not confirmed if Steven Caple Jr. will return to direct the film or if Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback’s characters will return. However, both options seem possible with its early confirmation.

The next upcoming Transformers movie should continue the story established in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Transformers 8 does not have a release date yet, but the early announcement could mean it arrives in the next few years. Since new details surrounding the plans for Transformers 8 have also confirmed that it will feature a Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover, Transformers 8 will likely expand on the story set up by Transformers: Rise of the Beasts‘ ending. While most other details surrounding the project remain unknown, it will mark the inception of a new narrative direction for the franchise.

Transformers 9 (Release Date TBD)

The Final Of The Rise Of The Beasts Trilogy

Transformers 9 is also in development, wrapping up the new Transformers trilogy commenced by Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Like its immediate predecessor, there are no further details on what the upcoming Transformers movies are about or who will be involved. It is expected that the movie will expand the Beast Wars universe in some fashion. This could include the threat Unicron possesses after his story was left open in Rise of the Beasts. Paramount has not announced a Transformers 9 release date, but it likely won’t arrive until 2028 or 2029 unless it is filmed back-to-back with Transformers 8.

Transformers & G.I. Joe Crossover Movie (TBD 2026)

Set Up By Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts’ Ending

There have long been talks about the Transformers and G.I. Joe franchises creating a crossover movie, and now, it is finally happening. Though Transformers and G.I. Joe have united in various other formats including comics and animated series, the first hint of their live-action film franchise crossover occurred at the end of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, when Anthony Ramos’ Noah is offered a position at the G.I. Joe organization. Now, a complete feature film is in development.

At this point, there is very little information about the Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover movie. Since Rise of the Beasts offers such a brief tease, the full-length film could go in any direction. It seems likely that Anthony Ramos will play a part in it, along with Michael Kelly’s Agent Burke. Previously known G.I. Joe characters will likely be replaced with a new cast. Ultimately, the Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover will likely be released sometime in 2026, though no confirmed date has been noted.

Interestingly, Transformers‘ producer Lorenzo di Bonaventure has also teased (via Collider) that instead of treading the same path as Michael Bay’s movies, the upcoming Transformers live-action movie will emphasize fleshing out the titular robotic characters. Achieving this may be challenging since the movie will also introduce the G.I. Joe characters. However, the producer hopes the crossover will find the right balance by answering two crucial questions: “Well, how much of the Joes do you want? And how much of the Transformers do you want?“

Bumblebee 2 (Unconfirmed)

A Possible Sequel To Bumblebee

Paramount was also at one point developing Bumblebee 2. The sequel to 2018’s movie was reportedly in the works shortly after its release and positive reception. No writer was ever revealed for the project, although it was believed that Joby Harold’s Transformers script was a Bumblebee sequel. This turned out to be Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, which makes it unclear if Bumblebee 2 is happening. A direct Bumblebee sequel featuring Hailee Steinfeld’s Charlie seems unlikely based on what happened at the end of the last movie, which involved Bumblebee‘s canon-disrupting ending.

Transformers One Sequel (Unconfirmed)

The Second Installment Of A Potential Animated Trilogy

Transformers One paves the way for not just one but many potential follow-ups. For instance, Megatron warns Prime in the film’s closing that their war is far from over. With this as a narrative cue, a potential sequel could walk through how the events of Transformers One gradually lead to the War for Cybertron. Since Transformers One only scratches the surface of all the secrets and wonderful creatures on Cybertron, a potential sequel could also delve deeper into the planet’s lore.

With so much left to uncover, it would not be surprising if Transformers One makes room for a potential animated trilogy. The Transformers franchise’s producer, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, also seems enthusiastic about continuing the movie series. In an interview with ScreenRant, Bonaventura confirmed that if Transformers One is successful, they are going to do a sequel for it. He believes they have already created the beginning of a solid story for the second film, which, like the first, will be character “character-based.” Here’s his full statement:

Number one, if we’re successful with this movie, we’re going to do a sequel for this. And we already have, I think, the beginnings of a really interesting story for the second one, which is also character-based, the way the first [is].

While Transformers One is one of the least expensive Transformers movies and earned some of the strongest reviews in the franchise, its box office results have so far been less than expected. While the reviews could make for strong word-of-mouth, the underperformance could put the future of the animated trilogy in jeopardy.

Ángel Manuel Soto’s Transformers Movie

The Live-Action Would Will Be Separate From The Rise Of The Beasts Trilogy

While the sequels to Transformers: Rise of the Beasts are not officially scrapped, it seems like there are already plans underway to make a different live-action Transformers movie. Blue Beetle director Ángel Manuel Soto revealed that he was approached by the studio to make the next movie in the franchise, which was likely what Rise of the Beasts ended up being. However, when Soto was uninterested in the existing script he pitched a new idea (via Collider):

“I pitched them an idea. I read a script, I didn’t like it, and I pitched them a whole different idea, and they liked it, but then it was too late. So they told me, ‘Yeah, we cannot do your idea, but we like your idea, so we want you to write the idea and then direct it.’ So, we’ve been in that process, but the writers’ strike happened. [Laughs] It will be different, it will be different.”

Soto’s comments suggest that he was ready to take the franchise in a completely new direction. Given that there are already animated movies and a GI Joe crossover in the works, it would be surprising if the studio was ready to go down a third new path as well. However, as of February 2024, the new live-action Transformers movie from Soto still seemed to be in development with producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura offering a cautious update:

“We’re waiting for the script is where we’re going. Thank you for asking. We don’t know yet, so we have to read a script. We don’t have one yet. “

Will Michael Bay’s Transformers: The Last Knight Sequel Happen? (Unconfirmed)

Are Michael Bay’s Transformers Movies Over?

There was also a lingering question about the possibility of Transformers: The Last Knight getting a sequel. Michael Bay and Paramount had plans to make sixth and seventh installments of the franchise, but shortly after Transformers: The Last Knight‘s release, plans changed. The result has been the Bay era of movies taking a backseat. However, Paramount could revisit the idea of continuing the Transformers franchise in the present day at a later point, even if that means pushing forward without Michael Bay’s involvement. However, with Unicron an important part of Beast Wars, Michael Bay’s movies likely won’t happen.

The New Transformers Movies Won’t Feature LaBeouf Or Wahlberg

Noah Will Lead The New Transformers Movies

Despite the upcoming Transformers movies, none of them will feature Shia LaBeouf, and Mark Wahlberg is also reportedly done with the Transformers franchise. The initial decision not to return came from Labeouf, who felt that Sam’s story was complete and had run its course. This didn’t sit massively well with viewers though. Wahlberg is also through with his portrayal of Cade Yeager, with reports as far back as 2017 confirming at a charity screening of Transformers: The Last Knight that it was his final offering (via boston.com). The idea of non-Michael-Bay Transformers movies didn’t appeal to him.

That being said, neither lead was ever really going to upstage the giant, clattering Autobots and Decepticons. Therefore, it was easy for the Transformers movies to invest some creative energy into its leads and provide a robust human element to counterbalance the presence of the Bots, which Rise of the Beasts did with Anthony Ramos’ character Noah. It was also necessary to make the changes since the Rise of the Beasts movie took place in the past, and only Charlie from Bumblebee could have logistically returned. Whether Noah returns for the rest of the trilogy remains to be seen.

Transformers

Transformers is a multimedia franchise consisting of movies, TV Shows, video games, and comics. The franchise centers on a race of humanoid robots called the autobots who must protect Earth from the Decepticons. Some of the most popular characters include Megatron, Optimus Prime, and Bumblebee. In 2007, the first live-action movie in the franchise was released starring Shia Labeouf.

Created by

Hasbro

First Episode Air Date

September 17, 1984

Cast

Frank Welker , Peter Cullen , Corey Burton , John Stephenson , Jack Angel , Michael Bell , Dan Gilvezan , Casey Kasem , Christopher Collins , Shia LaBeouf , Megan Fox , Josh Duhamel , Tyrese Gibson , John Turturro , Rosie Huntington-Whiteley , Mark Wahlberg , Hailee Steinfeld , Anthony Ramos

Character(s)

Megatron , Optimus Prime , Starscream , Bumblebee , Mirage , Ratchet , Ironhide , Jazz , Sam Witwicky

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