TheTransformerslive-action films have become some of the biggest summer blockbuster hits in recent memory. Taking the highly popular Hasbro toy line of transforming, robotic vehicles and translating it into explosive, action-packed,CGI-heavy storytellingmakes all the sense in the world.
WithTransformers: Rise of the Beastsbringing new elements of Transformers lore into the franchise, now is the perfect chance to explore the many differences between the source material and what we see on the screen.Transformerslore is messy, consisting of over a dozen animated series, several comic book continuities, and other forms of media, and at times, it can be contradictory. This list attempts to pull from many of these continuities, sharing the most interesting and consistent elements from all of them.
The Wreckers are an Elite Task Force
TheTransformersfilms aren’t afraid of a little humor, and they have introduced a number of characters meant to serve as comic relief. InTransformers: Dark of the Moon,for instance, viewers are introduced to Optimus' engineering team, the Wreckers. Consisting of Roadbuster, Leadfoot, and Topspin, this team has little screen time but plays a pivotal role in repairing the Autobots' spaceship, a ploy to trick the invading Decepticon army. Their nickname, the Wreckers, was a tongue-in-cheek reference to the characters' penchant for destruction, despite their talent for building.
However, the original incarnation of the Wreckers was far more true to their namesake. A unit of elite Autobot soldiers, the Wreckers, were sent on a number of important missions by Optimus Prime. They were often key to some of the Autobot’s biggest victories. They weren’t engineers, but commandos, meant to obliterate Decepticon forces by any means necessary. They were on the front lines of several major battles, but this had a cost on the soldiers. A number of former Wreckers like Kup, Guzzle and Roadbuster suffered severe psychological issues from their time in the war, mirroring the real impacts of PTSD.
The Dinobots are Not Ancient Warriors
When trailers forTransformers: Age of Extinctionbegan to release, fans were excited to see one of the most interesting elements of theTransformersuniverse make an appearance. The Dinobots roared onto the big screen, jumping to Optimus Prime’s aid against the resurrected Galvatron. The films painted the Dinobots as ancient Cybertronian knights, captured by Lockdown on his journey to capture Optimus and return him to Quintessa.
The original animated series, video games, and comics, meanwhile, give us a very different look at the origins of the Dinobots. In fact, in their first appearance inTransformers: The Animated Series,the Dinobots were the youngest Transformers. They were the first example of how new Cybertronians were brought into existence. The IDW continuity from 2005 to 2019 gives us another origin. The Dynobots were a reckless unit of Autobots who defied command to track down and kill the Decepticon Shockwave. In order to defend themselves, they adopted the forms of the local fauna and became the Dinobots. The Aligned continuity from theFall of Cybertronvideo games and theTransformers Primeanimated series, though, have the most interesting origin for the group. There, they are the result of a war crime experiment executed by Shockwave on Autobot troops. The Dinobots were the only survivors of his experiments.
Related:Why Shockwave is One of the Most Dangerous Transfomers
Megatron is a Revolutionary
No matter how deeply you have delved into the pop culture zeitgeist, chances are you know that the Autobots are the good guys and the Decepticons are the bad guys. It is in the name, with the Decepticons taking their title from deception. However, the films barely scratch the surface of the motivations of the Decepticons or their leader, Megatron, in favor of a purely black-and-white morality system. Since his deadly arrival on the screen in the firstTransformersfilm, Megatron has represented evil in the franchise, committing atrocity after brutal atrocity.
While the various source materials don’t shy away from Megatron’s evil, they also go to great lengths to show that he began with good intentions. Born into a lower class of Cybertronian, Megatron worked for centuries mining energon and fighting in gladiatorial bouts. Realizing the corruption and forced caste system implemented by the Cybertronian Senate, Megatron became a revolutionary to overthrow this immoral regime. In some versions of the story, Orion Pax, a.k.a. Optimus Prime, even fought alongside Megatron until the leader of the Decepticons began his tyrannical rule of the planet. Megatron believed that the only way to ensure peace on Cybertron was to execute extreme control on its population, but while his methods are notably evil, his intentions are far less so.
Optimus Prime and Megatron Used to Be Close Friends
Given the obvious enmity between Optimus Prime and Megatron, one might think that they’d be hard-pressed to find a time when the two opposing leaders ever agreed on anything. However, even in the live-action series, there are hints at peace between these great warriors. Before he reignited the Cybertronian civil war, Megatron learned alongside Optimus Prime under the tutelage of Sentinel Prime. However, it was his hubris and jealousy of Optimus that allowed Megatron to be manipulated by the Fallen to become the monster we see.
As with most things thus far on this list, though, things are hardly that cut and dry. In nearly every version of these characters, Orion Pax and Megatron were allies if not close friends before they went to war with each other. In one version, featured in theWar for Cybertronanimated series, Megatron, Optimus, and Autobot Ultra Magnus fought side by side with their mentor, Alpha Trion, during the initial wave of Trion’s revolution against the government. In the 2005 IDW continuity, Orion Pax was so moved by Megatron’s message of revolution that he joined the Decepticons and overthrew the government, and in the 2019 IDW continuity, Orion and Megatron were lifelong friends until the civil war tore them apart.
Optimus Was a Librarian, Not a Soldier
One of the biggest faults found in theTransformersfilm franchise is how little they explore the backstories of its main characters. What we do know about Optimus from the films is that he was a member of Cybertron’s Science Division before the Cybertronian Civil War began. Outside of that, though, little is known about the beginning of the war for Orion Pax, who he was or what he wanted. His Prime status was a product of his lineage, making him a sort of Messiah character in the grand scheme ofTransformerslore.
Admittedly, these origins are not that different from those found in other media. In the original animated series, Orion Pax was a dockworker and one of the first victims of Megatron’s revolution. He was later rebuilt as a Prime to lead the Autobots. In the other continuities, though, Optimus Prime has no military background. He has no special powers or godly abilities. Orion Pax was a simple archivist. He worked to preserve the history of Cybertron. He wasn’t a soldier, but despite his mistakes, he earned the title of Prime and the power of the Matrix of Leadership through his actions in the ensuing war.
Related:Every Transformers TV Series, Ranked
Megatron’s Alternate Form is a Gun… and Illegal in Australia
Unlike the majority ofTransformersmedia, the live-action films gave the title characters the ability to scan any new vehicle and take on its shape. Because of this, each of the main cast takes on a number of forms throughout the seven-film franchise. Megatron is no exception, becoming a tank, a jet, a rusted-out cargo truck, and a sports car during his tenure in the films. Nevertheless, one of his most iconic forms never made it into the live-action movies. In fact, due to the controversy surrounding it, most of theTransformerscontinuities would rather you forget it.
In his original appearances in Marvel Comics and the original animated series, Megatron could transform into two different alt forms. The first was a tank, befitting his aggressive, militaristic attitude. The other, though, was a Walther P38 U.N.C.L.E. Special handgun, and during his transformations, Megatron could shrink down to be wielded by any of his allies. This alt mode made its way into plenty of Megatron’s action figures, sparking controversy around the world. Now, the gun mode Megatron is listed as a no fly item for US airports, anda special licenseis required in Australia to even own the toy.
Optimus Isn’t the Last Living Prime
The live action films are very clear that Optimus Prime is the last of his kind. Until the reappearance of Sentinel Prime inTransformers: Dark of the Moon,it was long believed that all other Primes were dead, and in this continuity, this makes a lot of sense. The Prime lineage is deified among the citizenry of Cybertron. Optimus Prime was chosen by Cybertron to earn the title, so of course, it is going to be rare to find others of his kind.
While the other continuities are equally stingy in handing out this important title, Prime is most often earned by the person. In the original incarnations of the franchise, it was a more military title than a supernatural legacy. No matter how the title is earned, however, one Transformer consistently gains it in nearly every continuity. Hot Rod, a.k.a. Rodimus Prime, is one of the most important Autobots in the series, largely in part because he is only the second living Cybertronian in the series to earn the power of the Matrix of Leadership. Despite his importance to the other continuities, though, Hot Rod still has yet to make his appearance in the live-action films.
Bumblebee Becomes the Leader of Cybertron
It comes as no surprise that Bumblebee is one of the most popularTransformerscharacters. Not only is he the centerpiece of the entire live-action franchise, acting as Sam Witwicky’s protector and Optimus' right-hand bot, but he also earned his own live action movie. Despite his lack of a voice box, Bumblebee is one of the funniest characters in the franchise and one of the most steadfast, battling alongside the Autobots to defend Earth and even nearly giving his life on a number of occasions. Despite this, though, Bee has rarely ever stepped beyond the role of soldier or spy. In fact, his roles in the movies are fairly one-sided: protect the humans and kill the Decepticons.
Like many pieces ofTransformerslore, Bumblebee’s role in the original material is far more nuanced. While a scout, his role in the comics is greatly expanded. He is a crucial piece of the Autobot war effort, so much so that when the war is over, the other Autobots elect him to lead the new Cybertronian Senate. Bee has the important task of overseeing the reconstruction of Cybertron and the reintegration of Autobots, Decepticons, and non-aligned Cybertronians. Now, we have yet to see a post-war world in the live-action films, so it is quite possible that this leadership position lies in Bumblebee’s future. Given the importance of the character to the series, this step forward would only make sense.
Ultra Magnus Is a Key Member of the Autobot Forces
The live-actionTransformersfilms are filled to the brim with characters and references to the source material. That doesn’t mean that some important characters haven’t slipped through the cracks. I have already mentioned Hot Rod, the successor to the Prime legacy, but there are other key Autobots that haven’t appeared yet. Cliffjumper, Prowl, and Bulkhead are only three iconic characters that haven’t made it to the big screen. Their omission, though, doesn’t compare to that of the Autobot’s most important general.
Ultra Magnus has been around since the very beginning. Acting as Optimus' confidant and military general, Magnus even took the reins of the Autobot war effort after Optimus Prime’s death inThe Transformers: The Moviein 1986. A seasoned soldier, Magnus was never able to fully accept his leadership role, preferring to follow orders than give them. Nevertheless, his years of combat at Optimus Prime’s side make him a key element of the Autobot’s story. So why hasn’t he appeared in the live-action films? We may never know, but future entries in the franchise may answer this question for us.
The Maximals and Predacons Are a Futuristic, Advanced Form of Cybertronian
Recently introduced inTransformers: Rise of the Beasts,the Maximalsare a beastly race of Cybertronians. While the other Transformers become cars and planes and trains, the Maximals take on animal forms. This isn’t fully discussed in the film, as their origins are largely a mystery. Airrazor tells the Autobots they are from “their past and future,” while Optimus Primal (named after the Autobot leader) explains that they were sent out to foster life on other planets. Their origins are largely a mystery because their mission to protect the Trans-Warp Key from Scourge and Unicron takes center stage.
Despite thislack of focus, the characters have a rather interesting history in the source material. First appearing in the 3D animatedTransformers: Beast Warsin 1996, the Maximals and their enemies the Predacons come from a far future Cybertron. The civil war is over, and the peace has allowed for great advancements in Cybertronian tech. The Maximals and Predacons are the results of these advancements, giving them smaller, energy-efficient bodies and the ability to incorporate organic material to blend in with local fauna. Of course, in various continuities, this origin changes; the 2005 IDW continuity, for example, sees them as an ancient race of Cybertronian. Perhaps this is what Airrazor’s quote from the movie refers to.
