A new TV spot for Transformers: The Last Knight puts Bumblebee in the middle of World War II fighting Nazis. Much of the sequel's promotion has focused on the call to "rethink the past," as the story of The Last Knight is promising to usher in a whole new mythology for the Transformers, redefining their history and place in the world as they are known today.

Classic favorite Autobots like Optimus Prime and Bumblebee are expected to once again play pivotal roles in the battle for Earth's survival. But it remains to be seen exactly how Optimus Prime will be rebuilt and turn to darkness, as well as what kind of secret role the Transformers have played throughout history to this point. It appears that the sequel's biggest secrets lie in the hands of Sir Edmund Burton (Anthony Hopkins), who claims to know the secret history of the Transformers. Burton returns in a new history-filled TV spot.

The official YouTube channel for Transformers: The Last Knight premiered the new TV spot on Tuesday, depicting Burton explaining the secret history of the Transformers. It shows several quick looks at the hidden presence of Transformers throughout history as they protect Earth from "what was destined to arrive." In an extended clip, Bumblebee emerges in the middle of a battle against Nazi forces during World War II. Watch the new TV spot in the video above, and check out Bumblebee in a new promo poster below.

WWII is far from the only time period that is expected to appear in The Last Knight. The last new promo poster went fully medieval and Liam Garrigan is reportedly playing King Arthur in the sequel. There have also been several hints at battles with samurai in medieval Japan, including a samurai-themed Autobot named Drift voiced by Ken Watanabe.

Transformers: The Last Knight is certainly infusing the franchise with plenty of fresh themes and narrative threads. Inspired by the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and other successful shared cinematic universes, the goal is to create the most expansive mythology yet for the characters and introduce ideas for future sequels and spinoffs. Michael Bay may be done after The Last Knight, but it appears that the Transformers franchise is far from over.

Of course, it's unclear exactly how the new "secret history" of the Transformers will fit all of its disparate pieces together into the bigger picture - and whether it will translate to a coherent story. The franchise's reliably spectacular visual effects and action scenes can only take it so far, and the makers of The Last Knight knew they had to create something more ambitious to keep its success going and win over new audiences. But if the franchise doesn't take a step forward with Transformers: The Last Knight, it won't be for a lack of trying.

NEXT: Transformers 5's Cybertronian Creators Explained

Source: Paramount Pictures