Optimus Prime's brand new G1 design for Bumblebee is completely revealed in a new video. Paramount is channeling a beloved era in Transformers history for their latest movie. Although it focuses on the silent Autobot known as Bumblebee, he won't be alone in the new adventure.
Paramount found huge box office success by letting Michael Bay take control of Transformers. Through five films his vision for the shape-shifting robots led to a $4 billion franchise despite largely negative reviews, but a sharp decline in Transformers: The Last Knight's box office was the push the studio needed to go in a new direction. The keys to the Transformers lore were handed to director Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings). He is telling the origin story of Bumblebee and how he first meets Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld). But, he is at the center of the larger war between the Autobots and Decepticons. The movie will feature multiple Decepticons on the hunt for Bumblebee, but also has a role for Optimus Prime.
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Fans got their first look at Optimus in the official Bumblebee trailer, and his hologram has been a constant throughout the marketing since. Many longtime fans were quick to notice the inspiration all of the Transformers' designs took from the Generation 1 line of toys. While we've seen several good looks at Bumblebee during the marketing, Optimus has been a bit tougher to see clearly and fully. That's no longer a problem, thanks to a new video released by Paramount that is dedicated to the G1 designs. Below is a closer look at Optimus Prime's complete G1 design, followed by the actual video full of interviews.
The G1 designs were the first ever designs that the Transformers toys received in 1984. The G1 era extends beyond just the debut year and is used to refer to any Transformers toy between 1984 and 1992, when the Generation Two line was introduced. As stated several times in the video, Knight and the producers felt strongly that a return to the G1 designs was for the best thanks to the 1980s setting for the movie, but also as a way to honor what came before them. Optimus' design is practically perfect with only the yellow light on his waist absent.
Even though Optimus isn't expected to have a large role in Bumblebee, the potential that comes with his inclusion is massive. The trailers have teased a glimpse of Cybertron, the home world of the Transformers, and the conflict that ensues between the Autobots and Decepticons. There will be a flashback to this in the actual movie, so there is potential for an entire future movie to be dedicated to this time or for Optimus to be the star of future stories. It will all depend on Bumblebee's success, which has received positive buzz but may open to a franchise low. If Bumblebee can properly reboot the IP with Knight's take, then this will hopefully not be the only time these G1 designs are seen on the big screen.
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Source: Paramount
