Ever since the final Michael BayTransformersmovie, the timeline of the franchise has only gotten more confusing. I always loved watching theTransformersanimated seriesas a kid, and I’m still somewhat shocked that Bay managed to successfully create a series of live-actionTransformersmovies. Say what you will about Bay’sTransformersfilms, but he and his team clearly put a lot of work into each and every movie in the series. All the films that Bay made were extremely successful, and turnedTransformersinto one of Hollywood’s biggest franchises.
However, the franchise seems like it hasn’t had a clear vision since Bay made his lastTransformersmovie, 2017’sTransformers: The Last Knight. This is disappointing, since 2018’sBumblebeeis arguably the best movie in the entire franchise. Even thoughBumblebeewas a fresh entry in the franchise, to this day I’m still confused as to where it fits in theTransformerstimeline.The confusion about the timeline of theTransformersfranchise is a major problemand has left a sour taste in my mouth since the release ofBumblebee.
The Transformers Movies’ Continuity Has Been All Over The Place Ever Since Bumblebee
Bumblebee Was Originally Meant To Be A Prequel To 2007’s Transformers
Bumblebeeis set in 1987, 20 years before the events of the firstTransformersmovie.The film chronicles Bumblebee’s early adventures on Earth after being sent to the planet by Optimus Primeduring the final days of the Autobot and Decepticon war. SinceBumblebeefollows and is named after one of the most popular Transformers from Bay’s series of films, it was originally announced as a prequel to the first movie. However, this is apparently no longer the case since the series is trying to move away from Bay’s films.
$709,709,780
57%
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
$836,303,693
19%
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
$1,123,794,079
35%
$1,105,261,713
18%
$605,425,157
16%
$467,989,645
91%
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)
$441,656,550
51%
Since it is no longer considered a prequel to the firstTransformersmovie, it is now the first film in the newly rebootedTransformerstimeline. However, since it was originally intended to be a prequel, I don’t think people will ever viewBumblebeeas completely separate from Bay’s films. Currently,it seems like some people still considerBumblebee, and the 2023 filmTransformers: Rise of the Beasts, to be prequels to Bay’s films. However, the series is still seemingly trying to distance itself from the Bayverse.
Transformers Not Committing To Leave The Bayverse Behind Has Made Things Confusing
Michael Bay Has Still Been Involved In The Most Recent Transformers Movies
If the newTransformersmovies are meant to be separate from Bay’s films, then the producers are not doing a good job of changing the style and tone of the movies. It seems likeRise of the Beastswas meant to pave a new path forward, but the franchise still doesn’t seem like it has fully committed to leaving the Bayverse behind. For example,the designs of Optimus Prime and Bumblebee inRise of the Beastslook closer to their counterparts in the 2007Transformersmovie than 2018’sBumblebee.
Certain plot points from the most recentTransformersmovies contradict Bay’s films, such as when Optimus Prime first came to Earth.
Choices like this have made me question whetherBumblebeeandRise of the Beastsare actually meant to be separate from Bay’s films. Obviously, certain plot points from the most recentTransformersmovies contradict Bay’s films, such as when Optimus Prime first came to Earth. However, the newer movies haven’t done enough to differentiate themselves from Bay’s films. This is likely becauseBay still acted as a producer on bothBumblebeeandTransformers: Rise of the Beasts.
I Don’t Think The Next Transformers Movie Will Make The Timeline Any Less Complicated
A Transformers & G.I. Joe Crossover Is In Development
Theending ofTransformers: Rise of the Beastssets up aG.I. Joecrossover for the next movie. Admittedly, this is very exciting, but I am still doubtful that the next film in the series will make the timeline any less complicated.It has not been announced when theTransformers/G.I. Joecrossover will take place, or what characters will be included in the film. However, sinceRise of the Beastsis set in 1994, I think it’s safe to assume it will also take place in the 1990s.
Transformers’ Next Live-Action Movie Is About To Make An Old Bayverse Criticism Even Worse
Transformers is coming back with another live-action movie, but it should learn from the successes and failures of the past to get the best results.
If theTransformersfranchise truly is supposed to be in a new era, then the next film needs to do some serious work to differentiate its style and tone from the Bayverse. Overall,I would be much more excited about theTransformersfranchise if it felt like it was planned out better. Therefore, futureTransformersmovies need to clearly establish what the timeline of the franchise looks like.
