Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe

Wednesday, October 4th, 2017 1:21PM CDT

Categories: Movie Related News, Toy News, Interviews
Posted by: Va'al Views: 29,114

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We have some more news concerning both the wider cinematic universe after The Last Knight, not much more on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee, and the company's approach to licensing, courtesy of a very business-y interview with Katherine Buckland, Senior Director Of Consumer Products at Hasbro, found in the Licensing Today Worldwide issue accompanying the Brand Licensing Expo 2017. Do not expect too much, but the emerging details have been transcribed below.

One of the bigger news stories coming out of the Hasbro stable is the big screen movie release of My Little Pony in October 2017 and the Bumblebee movie in 2018. Tell us more.

KB: [...] Next December, Bumblebee will hit theaters from Academy Award nominated director Travis Knight and will star Academy Award-nominated actress Hailee Steinfeld and John Cena to offer fans a rich storyline surrounding fan favorite Autobot Bumblebee.

[...]

Let's move on to Transformers - Hasbro has really created a Transformers Cinematic Universe here. With each new film, what approach does the team make to its licensing programme?

KB: Hasbro takes a pragmatic approach when developing product ranges for upcoming films. From the start, we pay specific attention to detail to ensure the characters and storylines fans see on the screen translate into products people see on the shelves. The product needs to deliver a level of innovation that’s more than meets the eye [geddit?]. Consumers and fans expect that from us. The robust Transformers entertainment offering - which spans television, gaming, and full length features - lends itself to products, and we’ve enjoyed finding like-minded partners to grow the brand and its consumer product portfolio.

Talk us through the next steps in the movie franchise for Transformers.

KB: We still have several action-packed years coming up for the Transformers brand. Beginning this year, there will be a movie every year for the next three years, helping fans connect with the brand and its characters like never before. With Michael Bay at the helm, Transformers: The Last Knight – the fifth installment of the Transformers franchise – hit theaters in June 2017, and featured leading actors like Mark Wahlberg, Anthony Hopkins, Isabela Moner and Josh Duhamel. For December 2018, Hasbro is working on a film centered on the never-before-heard story of Bumblebee, and in June 2019 Hasbro will unveil an entirely new exciting storyline for the beloved brand.

Do Hasbro ever find themselves at a crossroads with brands such as Transformers? How do you ensure you are catering for all aspects of your fan base that spans such a wide range?

KB: Hasbro is always innovating for the new generation of kids while ensuring that it maintains the brand promise to fans. We like to say that Hasbro is always at a point of departure with the key franchise brands, so it's constantly evolving to reach new fans in unique ways across multiple entertainment and product categories. [...] Legendary fashion house Moschino featured Transformers in a collection available globally now. Inspired by the original Transformers look from the 1980s, the line is kept up to date with a vibrant gender neutral palette, action packed graphics and stylish silhouettes across men’s, women’s and kids’ apparel and accessories.

Credit(s): LTW

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Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1914515)
Posted by ScottyP on October 4th, 2017 @ 2:14pm CDT

2019 movie is sounding less like "TF 6" and more like a reboot.

Somebody call Toei :lol:

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1914574)
Posted by EunuchRon on October 4th, 2017 @ 9:41pm CDT

I ain't holding my breath, but maybe we'll get a dinobots movie, or something Beast Wars related? I wouldn't mind a movie that gives backstory and fills in the gaps with the current films, like where the dinobots came from or how everything started on Cybertron. I wasn't too hot for a Bee movie until they had the scenes in TLK where Bee was takin' on the Third Reich. I don't care what anyone thinks of the movie. Autobots beating up on Hitler is pure badassery and I'd love to see more of that! :BOWDOWN:

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1914715)
Posted by skywarp-2 on October 5th, 2017 @ 1:39pm CDT

Okay Paramount Listen up! I want to see a TV series, Netflix, Hulu or Amazon streaming, of Human soldiers and Transformer cars, led by Hot Rod, and fighting Under cover Decepticons searching for the Cube Fragment, and opposed by the Secret Decepticon Human forces seen in TFDOTM. The TV series would be set before the events of TFROTF and set between 1-2 movies.

The Show would be called NEST Covert Ops.

In the show's lore, Hot Rod was assigned to the UK first before going to France (and Picking up a French accent) and is in charge of working with a team of humans, and maybe 3 or 4 other autobots.. one is a scientist and works from their base like Q or Wheel Jack did..

One female Bike Bot.. Like seen in DOTM, with a holographic human pilot..or (pretender driver) and maybe a heavy weapons expert large SUV or Truck former.

Decepticons would be led by Starscream with Megatron's location unknown, and the allspark cube fragment unknown..

The point of the show is to run missions and show how Starscream led the Decepticons in the absence of Megatron, and under the control of the Fallen.

The premise is just perfect for a Weekly TV series. Humans Operatives, with Transformer heroes, no real Optimus Prime, or Bumblebee interaction, unless in large story arcs, or on Vid scanners, or Holographic messages.

Michael Bay could direct the first 3 episodes (ala Black Sails) and then the regular show runner could take over. Hopefully someone who gets it.

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1914721)
Posted by Stuartmaximus on October 5th, 2017 @ 1:49pm CDT

anywhere on the internet that I tried to suggest a live action Transformers tv series....people would just rubbish the idea, so good luck with your idea above ^

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1914765)
Posted by EunuchRon on October 5th, 2017 @ 3:51pm CDT

skywarp-2 wrote:The Show would be called NEST Covert Ops.

Or more accurately, Agents of Wheeled.

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1914768)
Posted by skywarp-2 on October 5th, 2017 @ 3:59pm CDT

Stuartmaximus wrote:anywhere on the internet that I tried to suggest a live action Transformers tv series....people would just rubbish the idea, so good luck with your idea above ^

Why? I can't see why people have to be so narrow minded. If Star Trek Discovery (STD) can go with big budget special effects, then it's definitely doable. If Avengers which is a kindred model can do Agents of Shield, then it's definitely doable. Since NEST was established in the movies as a covert team hunting the remnant of Megatron's forces under Starscream's command, it's definitely doable, given the voice actor could get a weekly gig, and not every show has to have an autobot vs Decepticon battle, however it could, just as Star Trek from TNG to current has massive Special effects sections in their weekly shows, so too can the NEST TV show concept.

It's totally doable, and plausible for that to be able to be done.. Forget those nay sayers..They lack vision.

EunuchRon wrote:
skywarp-2 wrote:The Show would be called NEST Covert Ops.

Or more accurately, Agents of Wheeled.

Hahahahah! That's what I was thinking! A sort of Agents of Shield type spin off, but centered on Hot Rod and co.

They could even introduce Ultra Magnus at some point down the road, and tie his appearance in NEST to a future Movie.. like Ultra Magnus was on a secret covert mission to the Earth's core or something.. that would tie in with Last Knight and the future movies after.. if any.. ;)^

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1914788)
Posted by Stuartmaximus on October 5th, 2017 @ 4:53pm CDT

well for one...has a live action Transformers tv series happened yet?....mmmmmm....no! so somethings stopped it from happening yet, or has kept it from happening so far, probably coz of a lack of interest in it(coming from the same aforementioned nay sayers no doubt)

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1914793)
Posted by Sabrblade on October 5th, 2017 @ 5:07pm CDT

skywarp-2 wrote:Why?

It's because no one wants to watch a Transformers show that deliberately stars humans instead of the Transformers. The movies as they are already get enough complaints from people about the Transformers being treated like set pieces and background visuals rather than actual characters (something we can hope to see rectified by the Bumblebee movie even if Bee were to be the only Autobot as a main character in the movie, but I digress), so a show that sidelines the bots even further holds even less interest with people.

The reason Agents of SHIELD can get away with working as a supporting show for the MCU movies is because, unlike the Transformers movies, the titular protagonists of the MCU movies are real people actors, not CGI characters (Hulk and Groot notwithstanding), with the same applying for AoS. When people watch MCU movies, they see Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Pratt as Star Lord, etc. The same applies for when they watch Agents of SHIELD, as when they watch they show, they see Clark Gregg as Coulson, Chloe Bennet as Daisy, Ming-Na Wen as May, etc.

For Transformers, however, people don't see Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime, Mark Ryan as Bumblebee, or Hugo Weaving/Frank Welker as Megatron. They see a computer-animated robot with a deep voice as Optimus Prime, a computer-animated robot with little-to-no voice as Bumblebee, a computer-animated robot with a scary voice as Megatron, etc. It's a different presentation entirely.

A show that focuses on N.E.S.T. or Sector Seven wouldn't be a "Transformers show", it would be a "N.E.S.T./Sector Seven show", which would only appeal to a niche corner of the viewing audience since it wouldn't be the same case as audiences going from watching the human-actor-dominated MCU movies to watching the human-actor-dominated Agents of SHIELD TV show. Rather, it would be a case of going from watching movies with robots in them (even if they're still overshadowed by the human actors) to watching a deliberately human-actor-dominated show with little to no robots in them.

Plus, the MCU feels more like it earned its supporting shows by maintaining a greater sense of consistency and organization in its overal continuity, thanks to having someone like Kevin Feige to helm everything in such an orderly manner. Transformers has had no such person to guide the films along the way, with the films seeming to just not care about keeping anything all that organized at all. The films used to let IDW help sort everything out with their tie-in comics, but ever since AOE, the films no longer have any IDW comics to help them along and a lot of the holes that the comics ended up filling and bringing logic and sense to seem to have been swept under the rug by AOE, TLK, and whatever future developments there are to come. Ehren Kruger, writer of DOTM and AOE, even once openly admitted that "logical sense" doesn't factor into writing these movies when it comes to what Bay and the producers want for these films, so tying in a TV show to fit in with these films' ever-changing hackneyed continuity would be a fool's errand.

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1914862)
Posted by skywarp-2 on October 5th, 2017 @ 8:00pm CDT

Stuartmaximus wrote:well for one...has a live action Transformers tv series happened yet?....mmmmmm....no! so somethings stopped it from happening yet, or has kept it from happening so far, probably coz of a lack of interest in it(coming from the same aforementioned nay sayers no doubt)

Wow! I'm sorry, I feel like I hit a nerve. I didn't know "who" the Naysayers were. I was just responding to the reply. But as for why it hasn't happened yet.. Well, if you will indulge me, I think I may have the answer. In the past we haven't seen any interest in a live action TV series, because Paramount has never expressed interest in expanding it's building franchise of Live action Transformers Movies. It's cartoon series come and go, but as for a live action TV series, the idea just didn't make sense, Back then.

Fast forward, now Paramount is looking to expand, first on their list, Live action Bumblebee movie/origin/spinoff/prequel. With Star Wars and Marvel Properties from Disney deluging the Movie, TV, and most importantly Toys and apparel along with various other Merchandise flooding the market, is a model that Paramount is apparently trying to emulate. It is perfect in a business model sense, as Properties are now trying to vie for a specific demographic of the market, Teens, collectors, and adult men. It's a war, and the flood of stuff we are getting like Star Wars is a great thing! Also, the amount of DC TV shows, Marvel TV shows, and scifi coming back too, it's a great time for new things to show up. Also with the Advent of so many streaming possibilities to produce a hot property exclusive for streaming service like those trying to compete with Netflix and Hulu, you could say a Live Action Transformers series with human military and Autobots on covert missions to kill decepticons uncovering clues and encountering their own adventures would be a hot idea that one of those streaming services may want to look at. Hot properties and franchise names as content encourage more subscribers, it's not that a TV show could have worked back then as there was no indication until now, with Disney as a rival, and Sony trying to make a come back, that Hollywood in general seems to be escalating a large scale franchise war, and so I say, why not toy with the idea for awhile.. see what we can come up with, and maybe someone in the industry will take our words here as something that would be taken as advice to make it work. It's pie in the sky, sure.. but why not have a bit of fun contemplating how this could add to the Paramount expansion? what's wrong with thinking this could be possible in the current media war climate? I think it's a great stab at trying to help Paramount along by putting this out there for discussion, in a relevant topic thread. I'd love this idea to become a community discussion, and maybe reach Paramount's ears...

I'm just enthusiastically optimistic. I'm a G-1 original fan.. who has finally after 10 years, accepted, embraced and become comfortable with these movies, styles, and the ideas put forth in the live action movies. How could I not? It has Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime! It had both Hugo weaving AND Frank Welker as Megatron, and Galvatron. I just can't ignore that.. I own the MPM-04 Movie Optimus Prime. I am getting the MPM-03 Bumblebee.. I am totally on board, and I'm happy to be there. Live action NEST TV series with my new favorite love, Hot Rod, would be a dream come true.. >:oP

Sabrblade wrote:
skywarp-2 wrote:Why?
It's because no one wants to watch a Transformers show that deliberately stars humans instead of the Transformers.

Now see, that's the kinda Stuff being said about the first two movies, and constantly gets brought up, but for the last decade, it has been accepted and even become, for many, expected and anticipated on occasion. I for one loved the Banter Between Agent Simmons and his body guard, or Cade and the Guy who Built Galvatron. Hilarious! Have you gone back and just watched the movie, this time from the beginning and tried to ignore past convictions and see it for what it is as it's own property? I took another look at Movie 1-3 and I watched it as if I was someone who was new to TRANSFORMERS and at the end of DOTM, I realized, this is a great trilogy. I loved Leonard Nimoy's Sentinel Prime, and I will Miss Mr. Spock, myself being a huge Trekker. However, I think that argument is 10 years old, and if done right, casting good chemistry and likeability, then humans with Transformers could work in a live Action TV series, as they have apparently worked in a live action movie franchise for a decade..Seems logical as Spock would say..

Sabrblade wrote:The movies as they are already get enough complaints from people about the Transformers being treated like set pieces and background visuals rather than actual characters (something we can hope to see rectified by the Bumblebee movie even if Bee were to be the only Autobot as a main character in the movie, but I digress), so a show that sidelines the bots even further holds even less interest with people.

Well, I don't think the Bots were sidelined at all actually, having just went back thru all 4 movies. I haven't seen all of TLK yet, but I will tonight! I think that over the progression of the movies, there has certainly been much more Bot action, think of AOE, almost every scene with a human was with or pertaining to Cybertronian tech or bots. Another thing I would like to also say is that with Knight Rider, a kinda cool trick is to have the humans riding in the cars for conversations with their bots, that is another way of keeping the characters around without CGI costs.. it's a workable idea, it just needs people who can see the avenues for it.

Sabrblade wrote:The reason Agents of SHIELD can get away with working as a supporting show for the MCU movies is because, unlike the Transformers movies, the titular protagonists of the MCU movies are real people actors, not CGI characters (Hulk and Groot notwithstanding), with the same applying for AoS. When people watch MCU movies, they see Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Pratt as Star Lord, etc. The same applies for when they watch Agents of SHIELD, as when they watch they show, they see Clark Gregg as Coulson, Chloe Bennet as Daisy, Ming-Na Wen as May, etc.

For Transformers, however, people don't see Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime, Mark Ryan as Bumblebee, or Hugo Weaving/Frank Welker as Megatron. They see a computer-animated robot with a deep voice as Optimus Prime, a computer-animated robot with little-to-no voice as Bumblebee, a computer-animated robot with a scary voice as Megatron, etc. It's a different presentation entirely.

While I concede it's a different Presentation Entirely, we're not talking about Actors here necessarily, we are talking about Characters. Optimus Prime and Megatron are names and characters that kids have grown up with for generations now. Not withstanding, other characters that are not real actors like Yoda a computer animated and Puppet no less with Frank Oz as a voice over, R2D2 a Robot remote controlled and piloted suit, with little to no voice. Chewbacca a Man in a large Dog suit who only growls and barks, and yet as household names, these characters tho not human, are part of the story, and have fans in their own right. It's not about actor recognition, tho it is for those who are G-1 when it comes to Cullen and Welker. at least for me anyway...

Sabrblade wrote:A show that focuses on N.E.S.T. or Sector Seven wouldn't be a "Transformers show", it would be a "N.E.S.T./Sector Seven show", which would only appeal to a niche corner of the viewing audience since it wouldn't be the same case as audiences going from watching the human-actor-dominated MCU movies to watching the human-actor-dominated Agents of SHIELD TV show. Rather, it would be a case of going from watching movies with robots in them (even if they're still overshadowed by the human actors) to watching a deliberately human-actor-dominated show with little to no robots in them.

That is not what I am suggesting. I am thinking of a more covert secret agent type show thing here, military backed, but more like a CIA division or James bond-esque type show. The Bots are in every scene, whether as cars talking to their human team partner, each human N.E.S.T. agent would be paired with a Bot for maximum bot coverage to appeal to those who want more, and argueably I too want more, but am comfortable with how the latest movies tended to be more bot focused over time. In total, the big picture of the movies in totality thus far, has been pretty good in trending upwards with more bots. With a TV series where once a week a RID fan can come and see Autobots kick in a few Decepticons heads with great spy like story telling woven in, and their favorite bots, and human characters together on the case. I'd watch that! I would see Sector 7 being represented by one actor as a liaison for that Government department and sort of overseer before the secretary of defense disbanded the team in DOTM.
However, you're right a show centered on only the humans and little bits of bots in it would fail, it'd be like tuning into the super Bowl for just the halftime, and the rest is only 1 or two highlights.. not worth it.. so yea, you are correct. I agree with you there, but that is NOT what I am suggesting at all bro. I'd want lots of Bot action. ;)^

Sabrblade wrote:Plus, the MCU feels more like it earned its supporting shows by maintaining a greater sense of consistency and organization in its overal continuity, thanks to having someone like Kevin Feige to helm everything in such an orderly manner. Transformers has had no such person to guide the films along the way, with the films seeming to just not care about keeping anything all that organized at all. The films used to let IDW help sort everything out with their tie-in comics, but ever since AOE, the films no longer have any IDW comics to help them along and a lot of the holes that the comics ended up filling and bringing logic and sense to seem to have been swept under the rug by AOE, TLK, and whatever future developments there are to come. Ehren Kruger, writer of DOTM and AOE, even once openly admitted that "logical sense" doesn't factor into writing these movies when it comes to what Bay and the producers want for these films, so tying in a TV show to fit in with these films' ever-changing hackneyed continuity would be a fool's errand.

Oh, I agree there.. However there are other ways to fix continuity, and opportunities besides comics and novels to do so. The Movies are basically fixed. A weekly TV show could help in those areas, and focus on key story arcs and battles that could tell the story and assist in retcon of continuity concerns in a live action way, thereby being ever more so satisfying then just reading it in a comic, and the beauty part, if Hot Rod does becomes Rodimus Prime in the movies sometime.. then the TV series of his past exploits just gets hotter... because now fans have two versions of this character who they've gotten to know, and before he takes the matrix of leadership, is gotten to know, loved, and his acceptance as the new Autobot leader and Prime would be easier to stomach then the 1986 mistake once made. As for the studios, yea, they may end up learning something from the TV series continuity which could improve their scripts and also give us a more satisfying movie experience on the flip side. If done right, Paramount could rake in Golden butt loads of cash, they just need to think about it and plan accordingly.

Now, I am off to Watch finally, start to finish..TRANSFORMERS The Last Knight!!! Sooo Excited! :POPCORN:

Hey guys, Loved the discussion, I'll be back later to check on the reply. Gotta love being a Transformers fan or as I call myself an "R.I.D.-fan" at this time. There's so much to look forward to! :KREMZEEK:

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1914866)
Posted by william-james88 on October 5th, 2017 @ 8:06pm CDT

personally, a show taking place in the movieverse would be way better than the movies for me. At least then I dont have to bitch about how its just humans, I will know its a budget reason. Still makes no sense to me why we have so little robot screen time in a big budget film.

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1914871)
Posted by JazZeke on October 5th, 2017 @ 8:15pm CDT

william-james88 wrote:Still makes no sense to me why we have so little robot screen time in a big budget film.

Really, the proven popularity of a talking racoon and tree proves that the movie producers and writers have no freakin' clue and need to get their heads out of their asses already.

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1914874)
Posted by skywarp-2 on October 5th, 2017 @ 8:17pm CDT

william-james88 wrote:personally, a show taking place in the movieverse would be way better than the movies for me. At least then I dont have to bitch about how its just humans, I will know its a budget reason. Still makes no sense to me why we have so little robot screen time in a big budget film.

Agreed.. We could get more Bot stuff. I would love to see a Movie series with Star Saber and a Human Earth Transformer space defense force set in the future of the franchise. Humans pilot huge exo-suits like Robotech or Pacific Rim (only more like Gundam), alongside Autobot heroes, Exo-suits like the ones in both Macross and Mospeda.. space fleets, and different planets. Now that kinda Scifi, human involved with lots of Bots would be awesome.. As a Movie continuation or even as a TV show. Exosuits can also transform..oh yea! the ultimate progression is human Autobot alliance and tech sharing as a space force. Enter Deathsaurus! The Ultimate Movie Live action Dragon! Eat your heart out Grimlock..

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1914913)
Posted by TulioDude on October 5th, 2017 @ 10:37pm CDT

If there is human character that needs a spin off,we know which one needs the most:

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1914914)
Posted by JazZeke on October 5th, 2017 @ 10:39pm CDT

TulioDude wrote:If there is human character that needs a spin off,we know which one needs the most:

Agreed there. I loves me some Alan Tudyk.

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1914938)
Posted by skywarp-2 on October 6th, 2017 @ 6:30am CDT

JazZeke wrote:
TulioDude wrote:If there is human character that needs a spin off,we know which one needs the most:

Agreed there. I loves me some Alan Tudyk.

Dutch would,be an awesome character in a spin-off show.

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1914944)
Posted by Stuartmaximus on October 6th, 2017 @ 7:52am CDT

skywarp-2 wrote:or even as a TV show. Exosuits can also transform..oh yeah!

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1914950)
Posted by skywarp-2 on October 6th, 2017 @ 8:52am CDT

Haha I remember that!

Question: what's the current ranking in terms of which movie is the best to worst, by fandom consensus??

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1914952)
Posted by Sabrblade on October 6th, 2017 @ 9:19am CDT

skywarp-2 wrote:Haha I remember that!

Question: what's the current ranking in terms of which movie is the best to worst, by fandom consensus??

The first one's pretty much the most (only?) cohesive film, with ROTF still ranked as the worst, though people argue over whether AOE or TLK might be even worse than ROTF. DOTM's in the middle somewhere.

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1915353)
Posted by TulioDude on October 8th, 2017 @ 1:26pm CDT

skywarp-2 wrote:Haha I remember that!

Question: what's the current ranking in terms of which movie is the best to worst, by fandom consensus??

My take:

Transformers->Age of Extinction->Revenge of The Fallen->The Last Knight->Dark of the Moon

The rage for some parts gets blow out of proportion sometimes.There's alot to like in them.I especially like how on Age of Extinction we got to see more of the Autobots outside of action scenes, a trend that continues on The Last Knight. ;)^

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1917578)
Posted by Va'al on October 20th, 2017 @ 4:22am CDT

A long piece in Deadline features producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura discussing the current power of the cinema experience, where the Paramount and Huahua partnership can lead, and what is in store for the Transformers universe from this point forward - with a nod at the Bumblebee spin-off - looking at numbers and the experience of watching a movie itself. You can read some relevant snips below, and the full article here.

With Paramount still waiting on Huahua to financially commit to the studio, there’s also been some concern in the industry that China’s interest in Hollywood is waning. But di Bonaventura isn’t that cynical. In regards to China’s interest in Hollywood, “It’s happening,” says the producer. “I think it’s starting and stopping because there are lessons to be learned. We can only accelerate the pace. The more we do it, the more refined we get at it.”

di Bonaventura has pacted with China on a few Transformers movies, i.e. Huahua Media on Transformers: The Last Knight and China Movie Channel on Transformers: Age of Extinction. In those cases, a Transformers film received a certain amount of product placement from the Middle Kingdom, i.e. China’s automobile industry. In such a case, that type of branding contributes money toward a film’s bottom line. It’s different for each movie, whether it goes toward a film’s production cost or P&A. But in a case such as Last Knight, there was $20M of Chinese media perk.

[...]

Through five movies, the Transformers franchise has grossed $817M alone in China. The Hasbro movies’ explosion at the box office have been in tandem with the boom of the Middle Kingdom’s exhibition infrastructure, including Imax and 3D. The first Transformers movie ten years ago grossed $37.2M in China, repping only 5% of its $709.7M global gross. Chinese tickets sales hit a peak with 2015’s Transformers: Age of Extinction, raking in $320M, or 29% of its $1.1 billion worldwide haul. This summer’s Transformers: The Last Knight continued to yield strong results in China with $228.8M; an even greater share of the pic’s global ticket sales, 38% of $605.4M.
Paramount Pictures

Bumblebee is expected to refresh the franchise after Last Knight, while not losing the spirit that Michael Bay has hammered out. Last Knight slowed in ticket sales, as the movie was a challenge for more sophisticated audience markets to decipher from its previous installments. Bumblebee is different in that it’s a period piece that takes place in 1987 and will only star four Transformers in total, as opposed to previous’ titles massive robot car ensembles. Bumblebee opens on Dec. 21 next year.

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1917579)
Posted by Va'al on October 20th, 2017 @ 4:24am CDT

Wow. He has some seriously misguided takes on how cinema works, which says it all about the live-action Transformers movies, really.

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1917583)
Posted by dragons on October 20th, 2017 @ 5:40am CDT

He talks like movie critic most is untrue movies made transformers fans of people that where not fans of transformers before movies was released yesterday I saw autobot license plate on car parikijg in four tif bank if not for live action transformers movies that person would not have bought that plate put on there car,

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1917584)
Posted by Kurona on October 20th, 2017 @ 5:51am CDT

If not for the live-action movies, that person would have had a bit of extra cash to spend elsewhere :lol:

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1917590)
Posted by EvasionModeBumblebee on October 20th, 2017 @ 8:47am CDT

skywarp-2 wrote:Haha I remember that!

Question: what's the current ranking in terms of which movie is the best to worst, by fandom consensus??

This is how I rank them:
DOTM
TF1
TLK
AOE
ROTF

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1917600)
Posted by skywarp-2 on October 20th, 2017 @ 10:11am CDT

EvasionModeBumblebee wrote:
skywarp-2 wrote:Haha I remember that!

Question: what's the current ranking in terms of which movie is the best to worst, by fandom consensus??

This is how I rank them:
DOTM
TF1
TLK
AOE
ROTF

See I liked ROTF, it's a great movie, so my ranking is like this...

ROTF
TF1
DOTM
AOE
TLK

In ROTF we get the matrix, classic banter with Star Scream and Megatron, devastator, the fallen on one of Saturn's moons, the intro of my fav. Team NEST and the original 12 Primes. Not counting the 12 knights. In total with TLK the movie lore is brilliant. I love the storylines. TLK reminds me of the cartoon, with cybertron coming to earth in the ultimate doom. Great storyline. TLK felt like a middle flick, which I can understand why it fell off at the theatres. The final 6th movie should,be the best to end the saga. I can't wait!

Going back, reviewing the movies, you really see G1 cartoon story ideas that become a live action version. Some changes made, but overall the impression I got as a kid, comes back with the overall scale of the movies. We truly are watching G1 In a different form. Close to source, but given more realistic movie scenario. Its a good time to be a transformers cinematic universe fan. I love the TCU.

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1917623)
Posted by Barricade.it on October 20th, 2017 @ 11:47am CDT

"will only star four Transformers in total, as opposed to previous’ titles massive robot car ensembles"

From a mistake to the opposite mistake.

Too many robots in TLK, okay: but only four robots in Bumblebee is sooo sad...

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1917656)
Posted by Budder Prime on October 20th, 2017 @ 2:51pm CDT

Barricade.it wrote:"will only star four Transformers in total, as opposed to previous’ titles massive robot car ensembles"

From a mistake to the opposite mistake.

Too many robots in TLK, okay: but only four robots in Bumblebee is sooo sad...

I'm holding back My Oppinions until I see the film itself.

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1917664)
Posted by JazZeke on October 20th, 2017 @ 3:28pm CDT

As long as the Transformers are treated like actual characters in their own right and can talk in vehicle mode, and aren't just set pieces for the human characters to work around, I don't care if there are a dozen Cybertronians or just one.

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1917669)
Posted by Kurona on October 20th, 2017 @ 3:36pm CDT

Honestly, for a smaller-scale story like this apparently is; a much smaller cast would work for that. Even from an in-universe perspective it works since everyone at this point in the timeline is supposed to be in hiding, with the public not learning about them until the 2007 movie.

I'm defending a live-action Transformers movie. This movie better be good enough to make it worth it.

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1917774)
Posted by TulioDude on October 21st, 2017 @ 7:13pm CDT

The count them is:Bumblebee is one,the Decepticon Red car and two other guys.

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1919727)
Posted by Seibertron on November 3rd, 2017 @ 3:13pm CDT

Paramount Pictures and Hasbro to Produce and Distribute Live Action and Animated Content Under Five Year Exclusive Relationship

November 03, 2017 08:37 AM Eastern Daylight Time

HOLLYWOOD--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Paramount Pictures and Hasbro, Inc. today announced that they will be teaming up to produce and distribute content based on Hasbro brands, as well as original stories. The two companies will collaborate on live action and animated films, with Hasbro’s Allspark Pictures and Allspark Animation playing an active role alongside Paramount Pictures in development and production.

This announcement expands upon an existing relationship between the two companies. Hasbro and Paramount have partnered on five Transformers movies to date, as well as two G.I. Joe films, and the first Transformers spinoff, Bumblebee, is slated for December 2018.

"Paramount has been a valuable partner of Hasbro’s for more than a decade, and we’re looking forward to taking our relationship to the next level," said Brian Goldner, Chairman and CEO, Hasbro. "Storytelling, in its many forms, is revolutionizing our business and differentiating Hasbro in all sectors where we operate. We look forward to collaborating with the talented team at Paramount to create powerful new stories for kids, fans and families globally."

While terms of the relationship are not being disclosed, Paramount and Hasbro will partner on financing projects at varying levels of investment, and Paramount will distribute the projects produced during the five year term of this deal worldwide. Paramount and Hasbro will also collaborate on television programming.

"Hasbro has an enormous array of exceptional brands, so this expansion of our relationship is incredibly exciting," said Paramount Pictures Chairman and CEO, Jim Gianopulos. "We look forward to working with Brian Goldner and Stephen Davis and the Hasbro and Allspark teams to create extraordinary film properties for all audiences."

Hasbro recently hired Greg Mooradian as president of Allspark Pictures, with responsibility for live action film and television. Allspark Animation, the company’s label for animated film and television content, is led by Hasbro’s Meghan McCarthy. Hasbro acquired Boulder Media in 2016, a leading animation studio based in Dublin, Ireland, to produce its television and film animation. Hasbro Studios, its distribution arm which the company founded in 2009, distributes TV and digital content to more than 190 territories globally. The entertainment division reports to Hasbro’s Chief Content Officer, Stephen Davis.

About Paramount Pictures Corporation

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television, Paramount Players, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.

About Hasbro

Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a global play and entertainment company committed to Creating the World's Best Play Experiences. From toys and games to television, movies, digital gaming and consumer products, Hasbro offers a variety of ways for audiences to experience its iconic brands, including NERF, MY LITTLE PONY, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY, LITTLEST PET SHOP and MAGIC: THE GATHERING, as well as premier partner brands. Through Hasbro Studios and its film labels, Allspark Pictures and Allspark Animation, the Company is building its brands globally through great storytelling and content on all screens. Hasbro is committed to making the world a better place for children and their families through corporate social responsibility and philanthropy. Hasbro ranked No. 1 on the 2017 100 Best Corporate Citizens list by CR Magazine, and has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere Institute for the past six years. Learn more at http://www.hasbro.com, and follow us on Twitter (@Hasbro & @HasbroNews) and Instagram (@Hasbro).

© 2017 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

HAS-C
HAS-LIC

Contacts
Press Contact:
Hasbro, Inc.
Julie Duffy, 401-727-5931
julie.duffy@hasbro.com
or
Investor Relations Contact:
Hasbro, Inc.
Debbie Hancock, 401-727-5464
debbie.hancock@hasbro.com
or
Press Contact:
Paramount Pictures Corporation
Chris Petrikin, 323-956-4420
chris_petrikin@paramount.com

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1919767)
Posted by kurthy on November 3rd, 2017 @ 6:44pm CDT

So the team up that brought us those 7 movies is now going to be responsible for future series? Great... :roll:

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1919770)
Posted by Octobotimus on November 3rd, 2017 @ 7:14pm CDT

what happened to Hasbro's studio? i thought they made their own studio for future movies.

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1919795)
Posted by Sabrblade on November 3rd, 2017 @ 9:52pm CDT

Octobotimus wrote:what happened to Hasbro's studio? i thought they made their own studio for future movies.

That's what Allspark Pictures is.

If by "Hasbro's studio" you meant "Hasbro Studios", that's their television show production company, not movies.

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1919801)
Posted by TulioDude on November 3rd, 2017 @ 10:14pm CDT

The idea of cartoons to fill in the gaps between films gets me excited!

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1920803)
Posted by Bounti76 on November 10th, 2017 @ 12:41am CST

As filming on the Bumblebee Movie wraps/is wrapping up, and with the last of the Transformers: The Last Knight toyline trickling out, we bring to you more news, though of the business side of making the live-action movies.

As we reported earlier, HuaHua media, via it's funding agreement with Paramount Studios, had incurred larger than expected losses, due to underperforming Paramount films (including this summer's The Last Knight). Well, it now looks as though that agreement is ending, via this story in Variety.

What does this mean for the live-action movies? Jim Gianapoulos, Paramount CEO said “The actions we are announcing today establish a financing model that is better aligned to Paramount’s new strategic approach to film production,” [he] said in a statement. Click on the link above to read the full article, and feel free to discuss this in the Energon pub forums below!

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1920806)
Posted by fenrir72 on November 10th, 2017 @ 1:24am CST

American businesses are learning from the Chinese.......how to put one over the other! :lol:

This time, it's the Chinese left holding the bag! Paramount's been a victim of so much piracy that they hoodwinked them investors from China into investing on a turd!

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1920814)
Posted by frogbat on November 10th, 2017 @ 4:39am CST

This might be related to the chinese government clampdown on foreign investment

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1920880)
Posted by Blackstreak on November 10th, 2017 @ 3:39pm CST

Perhaps if the movies and toy lines are underperforming, than maybe they should improve on the quality of their products? Just a thought. I rather enjoy the movies but the toys have really plummeted in quality and skyrocketed in price. Nowadays, the only lines I'm interested in are 3rd party and Masterpiece.

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1920882)
Posted by TulioDude on November 10th, 2017 @ 5:57pm CST

but the toys have really plummeted in quality and skyrocketed in price.

Unfortunately,this apllies to most toys nowdays,it isnt a Hasbro isolated thing.

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1925510)
Posted by Va'al on December 7th, 2017 @ 3:28am CST

We bring you today of piece of entirely non-news which will somehow turn out to be news, as it involves the Paramount live-action Transformers movie series and its director (so far) Michael Bay, who's been quiet about what might happen after Transformers: The Last Knight, and whether it actually was his last project on the franchise. Commenting very briefly on a question on Instagram from TFnerd, the director mentioned that the series will indeed take 'a new direction', though we have no idea as to what that refers.

We do know that the Bumblebee Movie will feature a new writer and director team, as well as reimagined setting and some designs, and we have heard rumours and speculation about the sixth movie in the main series, but nothing concrete just yet. Check out the entirely inconsequential non-exchange below, and let us know what might be in the future of the series!

So here we have the latest movies from two very divisive franchises. The #DCEU and the #TFCU. Justice League and Transformers The Last Knight. Both movies that got negative reviews and failed at the Box Office. But both movies that I enjoyed. I think I have a tendency for liking movies that get critically destroyed.

Even if you look at the movies that came before these, Batman V Superman Dawn of Justice and Transformers Age Of Extinction. Both got critically destroyed but I enjoyed both of them! In my opinion the DCEU and the TFCU are a bit similar since they both get so much hate and are now at a place where they have to rethink their whole plan on how they want to move forward. One thing I love about the DC films is that they are made with love and passion from everyone involved.

I mean ask @henrycavill if he loves being apart of the DC universe and ask @markwahlberg if he loves being apart of the TF universe. I don't want to hate on TF but let's face it. The people that are involved with the movies don't love TF as much as we do. I really hope they can bring people in who really care and love this franchise and I absolutely don't want to be disrespectful towards @michaelbay and if you know me then you'll know that I'm a huge fan of his work! What are your thoughts on this and which movie do you like more? #JusticeLeague or #Transformers The Last Knight?

michaelbay wrote:Well 4.5 billion dollars later, 100s of millions of people saw the Transformers movies - I’d say it had great run. Any Studio would take this franchise series success. That said. Now it’s time to take this franchise in a totally new direction.

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1925522)
Posted by hausjam on December 7th, 2017 @ 6:54am CST

Unlike the haters, I will take it any way I can get it. I loved them all. Weirdo fan boys who are entitled enough to think they deserve a big budget movie catered to their whims and desires will just have to keep dreaming. And hack critics, well, no one gives a frack what they think anyway. They are long since irrelevant in this world. (BTW, I put Justice League in my top 10 favs)

Long live Transformers!

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1925528)
Posted by Deathsanras on December 7th, 2017 @ 7:34am CST

hausjam wrote:Unlike the haters, I will take it any way I can get it. I loved them all. Weirdo fan boys who are entitled enough to think they deserve a big budget movie catered to their whims and desires will just have to keep dreaming. And hack critics, well, no one gives a frack what they think anyway. They are long since irrelevant in this world. (BTW, I put Justice League in my top 10 favs)

Long live Transformers!

Apparently you're a "hater" and a "weirdo fan boy" if you want the movies to make sense.

The movies objectively have some very specific problems in story-telling, narrative, visualization and direction. These have been hashed and rehashed over and over again, so I'm not going to lay it all out here. If you claim to not be aware of them, then you're either completely new to the franchise or a liar. As we are hearing, the "world" you speak of is rapidly drawing to a close; being "irrelevant" to it in its last death throes is unlikely to be something the critics will lose sleep over.

Compare, for a moment, the reaction to the Combiner Wars and Titans Return series. They are hugely fan-wanky, bringing G1 designs and even G1 actors, but they have been utterly roasted as being the next Energon - and don't forget the Japanese Go! episodes are competition for the title - suffering from a comprehensive list of narrative, characterization and art problems. Whereupon your claims rapidly fall apart.

I'd say the "fanboys" are the ones who are too dogmatic and blindly dismissive to address, or even acknowledge, the legitimate criticisms across 10 years of the Film incarnation, for fear of disrupting their narrow worldview, or acknowledging that "liking" it is not the same as it being "good".

But that might just be me and my completely unreasonable expectation that the films should make sense.

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1925532)
Posted by Saminus9000 on December 7th, 2017 @ 8:08am CST

The Last Knight was shit, why did we have to wait 3 years for it? You said you were evolving but you didn't do bits, you just evolved into the first male with tits

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1925538)
Posted by Aimless Misfire on December 7th, 2017 @ 8:30am CST

The Last Knight wasn't even a movie. It was a bunch of random scenes thrown together that didn't make any sense.

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1925540)
Posted by Rated X on December 7th, 2017 @ 8:35am CST

Ummmm I dunno whats more puzzling...the directors "new direction" comments or the way the more geeky elements of the fandom disect them.

Im a G1/CHUG guy age 41 and I f**kin love the Bayverse franchise. I always said when you watch the Bayverse films you gotta pretend G1 never existed. You gotta wipe everything pre-2007 from your mind and stop trying to compare it to your favorite Transformers series. Enjoy it for what it is. Keep in mind that G1, Beast Wars, and the Unicron Trilogy had just as many bizzare and often questionable moments as any Bayverse film. No writer is going to be able to explain every question you have about why this or that happened or didnt happen. We all have our list of questions we would love to ask Michael Bay and his team. My biggest question would be what happened to Galvatron and why was no fiction added to show us how Megatron came back from the dead. I hope that gets touched in the 6th movie but if it doesnt, Im not going to hate the franchise and condemn it to hell like so many people do. I understand alot of people dont like the potty humor. For some reason it doesnt appeal to geek portion of the fandom. Personally I love it. Call it a "guy thing" or whatever you like, but remember its a movie so its gotta appeal to all types of audiences. The movies werent made to be your dream franchise. Thats what you got G1 for, or Beast Wars, or RID, or whatever tickles your pickle. I cant think of a Transformers cartoon that didnt have bad humor in it (with the original RID being the biggest perpetrator) Yet I never see Skybytes stupid poetry catch half as much heat as the twins did in ROTF. I loved the twins and if I had it my way, I hope they return for the 6th movie just to piss you off some more. As far as the "new direction" is concerned, I highly doubt they are going to write Unicron out the script because they sunk way too much into setting up the plot for the 6th movie. In my opinion, every segment has went a "new direction" in one way or another. So honestly I take that comment very vaguely. Maybe they could be talking about the acting in the film. I really dont give a s**t about actors. It could be marky mark, john cena, tyrese, or joe schmoe from some reality show ive never seen in my life. Hell, you could let shia laboufs ugly face heal from his last bar fight and give him a spot and ill be cool with it. As long as we got a hot chick for some eye candy im a happy camper. Bring in Mia Khalifa lol. She might do a better job acting than these bimbo model types do. I just wanna have a good time and see some giant robots smash each other and blow a bunch of s**t up. Thats what Michael Bay does and he is damn good at it. I hope he does direct part 6 because this series will most likely define his legacy as a filmaker. If he wants to pass it on to a new guy like they did with star wars thats cool, but at least finish the first 6. Oh no, did I just compare Bayverse to Star Wars and commit the ultimate sin? F**k yeah I just did !!!

Anyways, kill all the hate. If 8 bucks is gonna break you, nobodys going to force you to go to the theater. Ill be there. As much as I hate Bumblebee, Ill be there too. Cena better do at least one wrestling move or I riot !!!

Long live Michael Bay !!! There are plenty of us so called "Gee-wunners" who actually appreciate you ! Rock on !!! :BOWDOWN:

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1925546)
Posted by Dr. Caelus on December 7th, 2017 @ 9:16am CST

There is a segment of the population that not only feels any criticism of things they like is a raging personal attack, but that any expression of disappointment or regret over how things have turned out makes you an entitled brat/elitist snob. And are ironically devoted to the belief that something designed to satisfy overseas interests reflects what domestic consumers 'really want'.

And I very much doubt that portion of the population will accept it graciously when things swing in a different direction.

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1925557)
Posted by Brakethrough on December 7th, 2017 @ 9:58am CST

Next up: Scavengers: The Musical!

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1925579)
Posted by Rated X on December 7th, 2017 @ 11:45am CST

Caelus wrote:the belief that something designed to satisfy overseas interests reflects what domestic consumers 'really want'.

Marky Mark, John Cena, Chevrolet, and Nascar are all about as "overseas" as a philly cheese steak.

Caelus wrote:makes you an entitled brat/elitist snob.

The word "elitist" ? I never heard of the term before in my life until a couple of months ago on this site. I never would have imagined having an opinion about a movie of all things makes someone feel elite. Is this like a millennial thing? Enlighten me...

Re: Vague Details on Transformers Universe: Bumblebee and Wider Cinematic Universe (1925615)
Posted by galvatron00 on December 7th, 2017 @ 2:14pm CST