Earlier within the week, we acquired our first take a look at Transformers One, and it most likely didn’t appear like what you have been imagining. The animated film, which is supposed to function an origin story for Optimus Prime (Chris Hemsworth) and Megatron (Brian Tyree Henry)—right here respectively referred to as Orion Pax and D-16—is sillier than anticipated, and predates the Autobot/Decepticon warfare that serves because the franchise’s basis. Should you’re on the fence after that trailer, director Josh Cooley’s right here to assuage your considerations, and likewise give some extra perception into how the film will serve its characters.
Speaking to IGN, Cooley defined that the trailer’s comedy focus was partially to assist audiences “fall in love with [Orion and D-16] as brothers and buddies” earlier than issues hit the fan. “They’re from the identical era and have a really tight relationship,” he continued, “[and] one thing occurs on their planet that they each have two completely different reactions to. By the tip of this movie, there’s some severe stakes.”
In D-16’s case, these stakes contain treating him like he’s not routinely booked to be a villain. Cooley described the longer term Megatron as somebody who needs to be “very actual and absolutely rounded. D-16 takes [things] to a spot, simply a number of anger, however you perceive why.” With Henry’s perception, the staff ensured that audiences would relate to D-16 and get the place he was coming from earlier than an undescribed occasion modifications his outlook on Cybertron in ways in which result in a “pure cut up” with Orion. Cooley hopes that earlier than the credit roll, followers and newcomers will view D-16 and Orion’s battle as a really actual and tragic cut up between outdated buddies.
As for Orion, he’s described by Cooley as somebody who’s pushed, however doesn’t at all times put the drive to its finest use. He’ll have to find earn the title Optimus Prime, and what being Optimus Prime actually even means. “Like anyone else, there’s a degree of maturity that we don’t have until we’ve gone via one thing. […] We’re actually taking these characters to coronary heart and treating them with the respect that they deserve and figuring out the place they’re going to finish up. It’s simply seeing how they get there.”
Transformers One involves theaters on September 20.
Need extra io9 information? Take a look at when to count on the most recent Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on movie and TV, and all the things it’s worthwhile to learn about the way forward for Physician Who.
