Transformers: Rise of the Beasts has been a long-awaited film in the franchise from fans across the world, but there is so much about the new film that many don’t know! So, allow me to introduce you to the Beast Wars!
What is the Beast Wars In Transformers?
Beast Wars: Transformers was a three-season-long computer-animated series that aired in the mid-90s. The series featured the descendants of the Autobots and Decepticons, the Maximals and the Predacons, as they traveled back in time to a prehistoric planet. As you can likely tell, the Transformers from this show turned into Animals, Insects, and Dinosaurs throughout the show’s run.
The Maximals featured Optimus Primal (Gary Chalk), Cheetor (Ian James Corlett), Rhinox (Richard Newman), Rattrap (Scott McNeill), and the legendary Dinobot (also Scott McNeill) as they tried to protect their new home from the Predacons, featuring Megatron (David Kaye), Waspinator (also, also Scott McNeill), Tarantulas (Alec Willows), Terrorsaur (Doug Parker), and Blackarachnia (Venus Terzo).
All you really need to know for Rise of the Beasts is that the Maximals and Predacons landed on prehistoric Earth in the Generation One Continuity. Now, we have a new cast voicing the classic roles in the new film, with the legendary Ron Perlman (Pacific Rim, Hellboy) voicing Optimus Primal, David Sovolov (Shockwave from Transformers: Prime Blitzwing from Bumblebee, and Depth Charge from Beast Wars) voicing Rhinox, and Michelle Yeoh (Everything, Everywhere, All At Once) voicing Airazor. Cheetor also appears in the film, though we do not have confirmed casting for him yet.
Let the beasts rise!
As mentioned before, Beast Wars was both a sequel and a prequel to Transformers: Generation One. Rise of the Beasts shares that distinction, being a sequel to 2018’s Bumblebee and a prequel (of sorts) to 2007’s Transformers. The film largely takes place in the 1990s, following the characters of Noah (Anthony Ramos) and Elena (Dominique Fishback) as they travel with a new team of Autobots and Maximals to stop a new threat unlike any Predacon or Decepticon they’ve ever encountered before.
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The Autobot team includes returning franchise mainstays Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen) and Bumblebee, and new-ish additions to the cast, Arcee (Liza Koshy), Wheeljack (Cristo Fenandez), and Mirage (Pete Davidson). The threat they face is much eviler than previously seen, with Scourge (Peter Dinklage) and Battletrap (David Sobolov) leading an army of Terrorcons, mercenaries who serve the evil Unicron (who was voiced by Orson Welles in the original 1986 animated film). Joining the Terrorcons is Nightbird, who holds the distinction of being the first transformer to be voiced by a Transgender Woman in Michaela Jae Rodriguez.
No Decepticons have been confirmed for the film as of yet, though with looks at Scourge’s alternate mode, fans will be able to see many badges of Autobots, Decepticons, Maximals, and Predacons alike worn as trophies on the mercenary’s grill.
What to expect from Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is directed by Stephen Caple Jr., who previously directed the acclaimed Creed II in 2018. Other characters in the film include Tobe Nwigwe as “Reek,” John DiMaggio as the Autobot flier “Stratosphere,” and Luna Lauren Velez in an undisclosed role as a human character.
Rise of the Beasts is the seventh live-action film in the Transformers franchise, so go in expecting exactly what you’ve seen before in the previous films. Lots of action, some campy humor, 90s nostalgia (bet you five bucks that there’s going to be a Nirvana song somewhere in there), a killer soundtrack, and a worldwide quest for some artifact that could change the world as we know it. I personally expect it to be a summer blockbuster that is going to be largely lambasted by the critics but lauded by the fans of the franchise.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts premieres in theaters on June 9th, 2023.
What are your thoughts on this? Are you excited to see a new film set in the Transformers cinematic universe? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow The Illuminerdi on social media to be notified of more Transformers news and updates like this in the future.
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