Paramount Pictures will not move forward with a sequel to “Transformers One,” according to director Josh Cooley. The animated film opened in theaters on September 20, 2024, and serves as a prequel to the long-running franchise. It tells the story of how Orion Pax, voiced by Chris Hemsworth, and D-16, voiced by Brian Tyree Henry, became the iconic rivals Optimus Prime and Megatron. Despite strong reviews, including an 89% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie earned $59.1 million in the United States and $129.4 million worldwide. The production budget was reported to be between $75 and $140 million, so the film did not meet financial expectations.
Our Review: ‘Transformers One’ – Now THIS is a Transformers Movie!
At BotCon, the annual Transformers fan convention, Cooley addressed questions about the possibility of a sequel. He said, “I wish I had something to announce, but I do not. What I’ve been told is that Paramount Animation is not interested in making a sequel. That’s what I was told. I wish we could. I have ideas, too. So it would have been cool. We’ll see what happens. You never know”. According to reports, fans at the event reacted with disappointment when they heard the news.
The future of the Transformers film series is uncertain. Paramount previously announced a Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover project after the release of “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” in 2023, but there have been no updates on that film. “Rise of the Beasts” also struggled at the box office, earning $157 million domestically on a $200 million budget and $441 million worldwide. This is a significant drop from earlier films in the franchise, such as “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” and “Age of Extinction,” which each made over $1 billion worldwide.
The first live-action Transformers film, directed by Michael Bay in 2007, was a major box office success but received mixed reviews. The following sequels brought in large ticket sales, but critics and audiences became less enthusiastic over time. More recent entries like “Bumblebee,” “Rise of the Beasts,” and “Transformers One” have received better reviews, but the franchise has not recovered its earlier financial momentum.
“Transformers One” is now the second-best reviewed film in the series, behind “Bumblebee.” If the movie had performed better financially, Paramount might have considered a streaming series or additional sequels, similar to what was done with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. For now, fans who enjoyed “Transformers One” can continue the story by watching the original animated series from the 1980s or the live-action movies.
via ComicBook.com
English (US) · 