Ever since the final Michael Bay Transformers movie, the timeline of the franchise has only gotten more confusing. I always loved watching the Transformers animated series as a kid, and I’m still somewhat shocked that Bay managed to successfully create a series of live-action Transformers movies. Say what you will about Bay’s Transformers films, 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 turned Transformers into one of Hollywood’s biggest franchises.
However, the franchise seems like it hasn’t had a clear vision since Bay made his last Transformers movie, 2017’s Transformers: The Last Knight. This is disappointing, since 2018’s Bumblebee is arguably the best movie in the entire franchise. Even though Bumblebee was a fresh entry in the franchise, to this day I’m still confused as to where it fits in the Transformers timeline. The confusion about the timeline of the Transformers franchise is a major problem and has left a sour taste in my mouth since the release of Bumblebee.
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
Bumblebee is set in 1987, 20 years before the events of the first Transformers movie. The film chronicles Bumblebee’s early adventures on Earth after being sent to the planet by Optimus Prime during the final days of the Autobot and Decepticon war. Since Bumblebee follows 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.
|
Live-Action Transformers Movies |
Worldwide Box Office |
RT Critics Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Transformers (2007) |
$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% |
|
Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) |
$1,105,261,713 |
18% |
|
Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) |
$605,425,157 |
16% |
|
Bumblebee (2018) |
$467,989,645 |
91% |
|
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023) |
$441,656,550 |
51% |
Since it is no longer considered a prequel to the first Transformers movie, it is now the first film in the newly rebooted Transformers timeline. However, since it was originally intended to be a prequel, I don’t think people will ever view Bumblebee as completely separate from Bay’s films. Currently, it seems like some people still consider Bumblebee, and the 2023 film Transformers: 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 new Transformers movies 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 like Rise of the Beasts was 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 in Rise of the Beasts look closer to their counterparts in the 2007 Transformers movie than 2018’s Bumblebee.
Certain plot points from the most recent Transformers movies contradict Bay’s films, such as when Optimus Prime first came to Earth.
Choices like this have made me question whether Bumblebee and Rise of the Beasts are actually meant to be separate from Bay’s films. Obviously, certain plot points from the most recent Transformers movies 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 because Bay still acted as a producer on both Bumblebee and Transformers: 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
The ending of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts sets up a G.I. Joe crossover 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 the Transformers/G.I. Joe crossover will take place, or what characters will be included in the film. However, since Rise of the Beasts is set in 1994, I think it’s safe to ᴀssume it will also take place in the 1990s.
If the Transformers franchise 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 the Transformers franchise if it felt like it was planned out better. Therefore, future Transformers movies need to clearly establish what the timeline of the franchise looks like.
