The spin-off prequel is all the rage in Hollywood right now: in addition to “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” 2018 promises “Venom,” “Aquaman,” and “Transformers” solo feature “Bumblebee.” Existing outside their franchise’s respective main storylines, these movies ideally have more freedom to find their own voice. And if there was ever a series that needed a change of pace, it’s “Transformers.”
Set in 1987, “Bumblebee” tells the origin story of the popular Autobot. It will be the first “Transformers” film without Michael Bay behind the camera (though he is producing). Without Bay calling the shots, will “Bumblebee” stray from the franchise’s established brand of explosions, CGI, and broad comedy?
There are certainly signs that this project could be, ahem, more than meets the eye. For starters, here’s how our own Gregory Ellwood described the sneak footage he saw at Cinema-Con: “To say this sequence suggested this would be the ‘best’ ‘Transformers’ movie ever is an understatement.”
Another reason for optimism is director Travis Knight. Though this marks Knight’s first live-action film, he directed 2016’s excellent animated feature “Kubo and the Two Strings.” Knight displayed stunning visual prowess in ‘Kubo,’ a trait which will hopefully help him improve upon Bay’s notoriously incomprehensible fight scenes.
Finally, perhaps the most enticing component of “Bumblebee” is the presence of lead actress Hailee Steinfeld, so charming and dynamic in “The Edge of Seventeen.” In an interview with Collider where she described the film as “very character and storyline driven,” Steinfeld hinted that “Bumblebee” might offer more depth than previous “Transformers” films.
Here’s the official synopsis:
On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken. When Charlie revives him, she quickly learns this is no ordinary, yellow VW bug.
Co-starring John Cena, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Rachel Crow, and Pamela Adlon, “Bumblebee” opens December 21.
