"Transformers more than meets the eye." This line from the Transformers theme song perfectly sums up what these "robots in disguise" are all about. Originally a shape-shifting toy line from Hasbro in the 1980s, Transformers developed its own film franchise. Before the live-action film series, there was The Transformers, a television series that began in 1984. This inspired the animated movie, The Transformers: The Movie, created in 1986. This means it has been almost forty years since the last animated Transformers film was released. Undoubtedly, the upcoming animated movie in the series, Transformers One, will provide a feeling of nostalgia for people who saw the original animated film as kids.

The first live-action Transformers movie came out in 2007, starring Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox, and was directed by Michael Bay. Since then, six other Transformers movies have been released with a mix of different actors and directors. The most recent film in the series is Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, released in June 2023 after a five-year hiatus.

Transformers One has been in the cards for a while, originally being greenlit by Paramount in 2020. Since it was announced that Transformers One was set to be produced, fans have greatly anticipated its arrival. It seems people cannot get enough origin stories, and this film will provide just that. It is always interesting to look at the history of characters we know and love. Audiences can understand more about the motivations behind their actions and how their relationships have developed over time. These may be robots, but since they are personified, they have emotions. Being an animated movie, Transformers One will take a different tone than the previous live-action films. It will be nice to get back to the franchise's origins and have a bit of a lighter feel to the story. The following is everything we know about Transformers One.

Editor's Note: This piece was updated on April 18, 2024.

Does 'Transformers One' Have a Release Date?

Transformers One is set to "roll out" on September 20, 2024. The movie was previously scheduled for release on July 19, 2024, before being delayed until September 13, 2024. After the release of the first trailer, it was revealed that the release date had been bumped back a week. Another robot-themed animated movie is currently scheduled to open that same weekend in the form of DreamWorks' The Wild Robot. However, there is a good chance that one of the movies will end up moving away from the release date. Also scheduled to open that weekend is Jon Watts' thriller Wolfs, starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

Have no fear; when Transformers One does come out, it will come out with a bang on the big screen. After its theatrical run, it will be available on VOD (Video on Demand). Considering it is a Paramount Picture, it has a high chance of ending up on Paramount+, their streaming service. This is where you can watch previous films in the Transformers franchise if you want to get excited before the movie comes out.

Is There a Trailer for 'Transformers One'?

Paramount premiered the first trailer for Transformers One on April 18, in the first-ever trailer launch from outer space. Set to The Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up," the trailer gives audiences their first look at the prequel and the noticeably much more family-friendly tone than previous installments in the franchise.

What Is 'Transformers One' About?

We are returning to where it all began on Cybertron, the planet where the Transformers hail from. This story stays true to the origins of past comic books and television series. Our main characters include the famous Optimus Prime and Megatron, who begin as friends. Audiences can see what happened to these characters and how they became enemies. Inevitably, this also explains how the Autobots and Decepticons begin their war. An overarching theme of inequality in society will also make an appearance. Considering that this movie is based on a line of children's toys, the creators have been able to bring some more mature themes into the story.

One of the producers of the franchise, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, spoke to the entertainment website JoBlo and explained, "We’re hoping that there is enough emotional construct to that would lead to a trilogy of it because, personally, I think there’s a natural trilogy [...] you’re going to see Cybertron in a way you’ve never seen it, that no one’s ever seen it before.” Based on some of the characters appearing in the movie, it is possible to guess what else the film will cover. The inclusion of Alpha Trion, one of the oldest Autobots, and Sentinel Prime, a primary antagonist, makes us think we will get more of a history of Transformers beyond just that of Optimus Prime and Megatron.

The official synopsis for the film reads:

TRANSFORMERS ONE is the untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, better known as sworn enemies, but once were friends bonded like brothers who changed the fate of Cybertron forever.

Who Stars in 'Transformers One'?

Transformers One is made up of a star-studded cast, making it all the more appealing to audiences. With the film being animated, this allowed creators to re-cast some roles. Chris Hemsworth enters the scene as Orion Pax aka Optimus Prime, the film's protagonist, and leader of the Autobots. This Australian heartthrob has some experience being the hero of the story, previously appearing as Thor in multiple different Marvel movies. Outside of the MCU, Hemsworths other credits include the Extraction films, Snow White and the Huntsman, and the upcoming Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Transformers One marks Hemsworth's first animated movie.

Starring alongside Hemsworth is Academy Award nominee Scarlett Johansson as Elita-1, a fellow member of the Autobots. Johansson has received multiple awards and has been one of the most popular actresses in Hollywood for years. Johansson is perhaps most known for playing the role of Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow in the MCU alongside Hemsworth's Thor. Outside of superhero movies, she has previously appeared in movies such as Marriage Story, Jojo Rabbit, and Lucy. Johansson is no stranger to voice-acting, having let her voice to the Sing movies, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, Isle of Dogs, and the live-action The Jungle Book remake.

Fellow Autobots include Keegan Michael-Key (Key & Peele) as Bumblebee, Academy Award nominee Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix) as Alpha Trion, and Jon Hamm (Mad Men) as Sentinel Prime. Academy Award nominee Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta) will voice D-16, who later becomes Optimus Prime's arch-nemesis Megatron. Steve Buscemi (Fargo) will also be a part of the voice cast in an undisclosed role.

Who Is Making 'Transformers One'?

Transformers One will be directed by Josh Cooley, who previously directed Toy Story 4. The prequel is written by Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari, who have previously collaborated, with their biggest success being Ant-Man and the Wasp. Additional writers include Steve Desmond and Michael Sherman, who have worked on short films together, such as Monsters and the feature film Knock at the Cabin.

Any project involving the legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg automatically gives it legitimacy and credibility. In the case of Transformers, Spielberg has been on the team as executive producer since the first film. He will continue this role for Transformers One along with Brian Goldner (Battleship), Brian Oliver (Black Swan), Bradley J. Fischer (Zodiac), and Valerii An (Coming 2 America).

Transformers One is written by Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari, who have previously collaborated, with their biggest success being Ant-Man and the Wasp. Additional writers include Steve Desmond and Michael Sherman, who have worked on short films together, such as Monsters and the feature film Knock at the Cabin.

Producers of Transformers One include Michael Bay (director of the early films in the franchise), Mark Vahradian (Infinite), Aaron Dem (How to Train Your Dragon 2), Tom DeSanto (X-Men), Don Murphy (From Hell), and the previously mentioned Lorenzo di Bonaventura (Transformers). The animation studio working on the film is Industrial Light & Magic, who also created the Transformers film, Bumblebee. Distributing the film is the fifth oldest surviving film studio in the world, Paramount Pictures.