Earlier within the week, we obtained our first have 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 generally known as Orion Pax and D-16—is sillier than anticipated, and predates the Autobot/Decepticon conflict that serves because the franchise’s basis. In the event you’re on the fence after that trailer, director Josh Cooley’s right here to assuage your considerations, and in addition give some extra perception into how the film will serve its characters.
Speaking to IGN, Cooley defined that the trailer’s comedy focus was partly 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 technology 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 top 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 long run Megatron as somebody who ought to be “very actual and totally rounded. D-16 takes [things] to a spot, simply numerous anger, however you perceive why.” With Henry’s perception, the crew 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the credit roll, followers and newcomers will view D-16 and Orion’s battle as a really actual and tragic cut up between outdated buddies.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 all the time put the drive to its greatest use. He’ll have to find the best way to 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 except we’ve gone by means of one thing. […] We’re actually taking these characters to coronary heart and treating them with the respect that they deserve and understanding the place they’re going to finish up. IT’s simply seeing how they get there.”
Transformers One involves theaters on September 20.
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