Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (June 9, 2023)

EXCLUSIVE: Following a lengthy search, Paramount Pictures and Hasbro Studios have set Steven Caple Jr. to direct the new Transformers pic in the reinvented universe. Insiders add while negotiations have yet to begin, he is the top choice among studio execs and producers and a deal should close in the coming weeks. After meeting with several top execs including Paramount Motion Picture President Emma Watts, the studio saw Caple as the best fit for the franchise that the studio chose to revamp at the top of the year.

In January, the studio made the decision to give the entire franchise a revamp by having two simultaneous scripts that are in active development: one by James Vanderbilt and one by Joby Harold. Harold’s film eventually would be chosen as the next installment in the franchise, and once he had given his final touches on the script at the end of the summer, the studio began taking director pitches on the next film.

Transformers has been one of Paramount’s biggest draws since the franchise was launched in 2007, grossing more than $4 billion worldwide over five films. Following the release of 2017’s Transformers: The Last Knight, director Michael Bay parted ways with the series to focus on new original material. After that, the studio decided to do a full revamp of the property, starting with a writers room that would develop multiple ways to pursue a new film, leading to 2018’s Bumblebee.

Caple is best known for directing the sequel to Creed 2 starring Michael B. Jordan.

Anthony Ramos in Final Negotiations to Star in ‘Transformers’ Franchise Sequel

Following news that the studio was already in development on a separate Transformers movie from Charm City Kings Angel Manuel Soto, its other film looks to have found its lead. Sources tell Deadline, that Anthony Ramos is in final negotiations to star in a Transformers movie for Paramount and eOne that has Steven Caple Jr. is directing. Last week it was announced the studio was also developing an untitled pic from Soto that would be completely different from this pic and it has always been the plan to have multiple projects in pre-production at the same time. They are also developing an animated pic from Toy Story 4 director Josh Cooley.

Last January, the studio made the decision to give the entire franchise a revamp by having two simultaneous scripts that are in active development: one by James Vanderbilt and one by Joby Harold. Harold’s film eventually would be chosen as the next installment in the franchise and after meeting with several directors this past fall, Caple was tapped to lead this new series and essentially putting this film in the position to be the next live-action Transformers pic to go into production.

While execs will now look to do screen and chemistry tests with his female co-star, Ramos always seemed to be the top choice from the day Caple came aboard. Those tests with possible co-stars will happen soon with decision on that casting coming next month. Sources Kiki Layne and Dominque Fishback are among those meeting for the role.

Transformers has been one of Paramount’s biggest draws since the franchise was launched in 2007, grossing more than $4 billion worldwide over five films. Following the release of 2017’s Transformers: The Last Knight, director Michael Bay parted ways with the series to focus on new original material. After that, the studio decided to do a full revamp of the property, starting with a writers room that would develop multiple ways to pursue a new film, leading to 2018’s Bumblebee.

Since his breakout role as one of the original cast members of Hamilton, Ramos star has been on the rise with Bradley Cooper soon tapping him for a role his A Star Is Born remake. That leading man status is only expected to grow with the highly-anticipated adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In The Heights bowing this summer with Ramos leading the ensemble cast.

EXCLUSIVE: Following her breakout role in the Oscar Best Picture-nominated Judas and the Black Messiah, Dominique Fishback has found her next role in one of Hollywood’s biggest franchises. Sources tell Deadline that Fishback is in final negotiations to co-star with Anthony Ramos in a Transformers movie for Paramount, eOne and Hasbro that has Steven Caple Jr directing. The film is bowing on June 24, 2022.

Darnell Metayer and Josh Peters are writing based off a script by Joby Harold. Skydance is co-financing and executive producing. New Republic Pictures is also a co-financing partner.

While Ramos seemed like the frontrunner from the beginning, Paramount took their time meeting with a number actresses for the other lead role. Ramos screen-tested with a handful of women and in the end Fishback won over everyone involved. The opportunity to work with Ramos comes full circle for the two, who have been close friends for years after working together on a play back in college.

Transformers has been one of Paramount’s biggest draws since the franchise was launched in 2007, grossing more than $4 billion worldwide over five films. Following the release of 2017’s Transformers: The Last Knight, director Michael Bay parted ways with the series to focus on new original material. After that, the studio decided to do a full revamp of the property, starting with a writers room that would develop multiple ways to pursue a new film, leading to 2018’s Bumblebee.

Fishback is having quite the run which started with her BAFTA-nominated role as Deborah Johnson, the writer, activist and fiancée of Fred Hampton, the chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party. Her co-star, Daniel Kaluuya, was recently feted with an Oscar for his role as Hampton, but many pundits and critics saw Fishback as the breakout star of the film and Hollywood has taken notice. Besides Transformers, Fishback is also set to co-star with Samuel L. Jackson in the Apple series The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, which shoots later this year. She is also starring in Subverted, which she will also exec produce with Jamie Foxx and Datari Turner.

She also was recently seen opposite Foxx in Netflix’s Project Power.

No longer a 'sequel' in disguise, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will be a reboot to the Transformers franchise. Director Steven Caple Jr. and the film's star, Anthony Ramos (In the Heights) revealed as much in an interview with Black Girl Nerds. Until this point, it had not been confirmed that Rise of the Beasts would be a reboot (though with the various storylines, this does make sense).

When asked what audiences can expect from the tone and themes of the film, Caple Jr. did reveal that his Transformers film will be reboot to the franchise. Rise of the Beasts will mark the franchise's first live action film since 2018's Bumblebee, which predominantly stood on its own from the earlier Michael Bay films. Of course, Bay is remaining on board Rise of the Beasts as a producer. With the new film taking place in 1994, it is expected to softly follow Bumblebee, which took place in the 1980s.

Rise of the Beasts being a reboot jives very well with the rest of Caple Jr.'s comments, particularly those pertaining to Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen). While most fans (particularly of Bay's films) see Optimus as the leader of the Autobots as a righteous savior of Earth, Caple Jr. said in his film the character is skeptical of humans and just looking to get to his home. This tidbit is very interesting given the opening of Bumblebee, which took place on Cybertron.

Fans had been curious whether Rise of the Beasts would be a reboot, so it's undoubtedly relieving for many to hear as much. Though Bay's films started strong (financially) with the original in 2007, the franchise had become exhausted ten years later with Transformers: The Last Knight losing nearly $100 million for Paramount and Hasbro. Bumblebee performed better financially and especially critically, so here is hoping that Rise of the Beasts proves to be the next step in the right direction.

Ramos leads Rise of the Beasts alongside Dominique Fishback (Judas and the Black Messiah). Several actors will lend their voices to the film, namely Ron Perlman as the leader of the Maximals, Optimus Primal. Michelle Yeoh, Pete Davidson, and Peter Dinklage have also been cast in voice roles for the film. Cullen, who voiced Optimus Prime in all of Bay's films (and Bumblebee), also reprises his role.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts adapts the Beast Wars storyline, a fan favorite among the fans. The film will force the Autobots and Maximals needing to work together to overthrow the Terrorcons, a villainous faction of Transformers that have yet to make it to the big screen. Additionally, the film has been described as a globe-trotting adventure, which is sure to lend itself to some great action set pieces.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts lands in theaters on June 9 of next year.

UltimateMarvel wrote:I'm done with Transformers movies. I haven't even seen Bumblebee and I don't plan to.

joey con carne wrote:Wait, what? This film is a reboot? the fuck...