The Transformers franchise faced challenges in 2024 after two live-action films, Dark of the Moon and Age of Extinction, each surpassed $1 billion at the box office. However, Rise of the Beasts earned $439 million, failing to restore the franchise’s market leadership. In response, Hasbro and Vital shifted strategy entirely, moving away from the blockbuster model that had once defined the series.
Instead of pursuing a 10-project pipeline of new films and spin-offs—including a long-stalled G.I. Joe/Transformers crossover movie that had been sitting in limbo and was set to follow the events of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts in 2023—they scrapped all plans and adopted a more experimental approach. This led to Transformers One, a CGI prequel now available on Netflix, which explores the rivalry between Optimus Prime and Megatron in their early days, when they were once close friends before their transformation into enemies.
Netflix’s Animated Prequel Breaks New Ground
The animated film marked the first time the franchise departed from Peter Cullen’s legendary portrayal of Optimus Prime. Chris Hemsworth was cast as Orion Pax, the character who would later become the Autobots’ leader. The supporting cast included Brian Tyree Henry as D-16, who would eventually evolve into Megatron, Scarlett Johansson as Elita-1, Keegan-Michael Key as B-127 (later Bumblebee), Steve Buscemi as Starscream, Laurence Fishburne as Alpha Trion, and Jon Hamm as Sentinel Prime.
The voice cast brought depth to their roles, with Buscemi’s Starscream embodying the character’s signature scheming, while Fishburne’s gravelly Alpha Trion added gravitas to Cybertron’s scientific leadership. The animation, praised for its fluidity and detail, allowed for creative liberties that live-action had previously constrained, such as dynamic transformations and expansive Cybertronian environments.
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On Rotten Tomatoes, Transformers One achieved an 89% approval rating, placing it second only to Bumblebee (91%). Critics highlighted its narrative ambition, with Wendy Ide from The Observer calling it “a refreshingly new breed of Autobot adventure, one that has been notably souped-up in the brains department.” Rafer Guzman of Newsday contrasted it with earlier entries, noting that the franchise had finally moved beyond “rock ’em, sock ’em” action, delivering “intelligence and spirit” instead.
Justin Clark of Slant Magazine argued that animation was the ideal medium for Transformers, allowing the story to explore emotional stakes, such as Orion Pax’s transformation into Optimus Prime, without the limitations of live-action. Despite the acclaim, the film earned only $129 million against a $75 million budget, confirming that even critical success couldn’t fully offset the franchise’s commercial struggles. This financial shortfall led to the cancellation of multiple projects, including the G.I. Joe crossover, which had been in development for years.
Bay’s Return and the Future of Optimus Prime
While some fans are excited, one glaring issue needs to be addressed, and “Transformers One” might have the answer. Michael Bay might return to direct the next Transformers movie, but who will voice Optimus Prime? It was announced this week that, after directing the first five films, master of disaster and damage, Michael Bay might return to helm the new movie, with Steven Spielberg also returning as producer (via The Hollywood Reporter). The shift from a 10-project pipeline to a scrapped slate reflects the franchise’s ongoing struggle to find a sustainable path forward, but the return of Bay and Spielberg signals a renewed focus on recapturing the spectacle and emotional resonance that defined its early live-action success.
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