News

The Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover movie receives an uncertain update from one of its stars. The latest Transformers movie, 2023's Rise of the Beasts, introduces Anthony Ramos as Noah Diaz, an ex-military electronics expert who, in 1994, joins forces with the Autobots and Maximals to protect a powerful relic called the Transwarp Key from the evil Terrorcons.

During Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' ending, Noah is invited to join a secret military organization known as G.I. Joe, seemingly setting up a crossover. A G.I. Joe and Transformers crossover movie is officially in development, with Chris Hemsworth reportedly in talks to star. However, its status remains uncertain for various reasons.

Speaking with ScreenRant's Liam Crowley ahead of The Bad Guys 2's release, Anthony Ramos shared an uncertain update on the status of the Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover movie. The star says he doesn't know much about the crossover movie,...

The Transformers franchise is gearing up for a big comeback with several new projects on the horizon. After years of ups and downs at the box office, Paramount is diving back into the world of Autobots and Decepticons with fresh ideas and familiar faces.

We’re thrilled to share the latest buzz about what’s next for this iconic series. From returning directors to bold crossovers, here’s a breakdown of the five Transformers projects reportedly in development.

Michael Bay’s new Transformers film Paramount Pictures

Michael Bay, the director who brought Transformers to life with his explosive style, is planning a return to the franchise. After stepping away post-‘Transformers: The Last Knight’ (2017), Bay is now working on a new live-action film, possibly as both director and producer.

The script is being penned by Jordan VanDina, known for ‘Cocaine Bear.’ While plot details remain under wraps, Bay’s return...

Scarlett Johansson is facing some trouble adapting the popular Disney ride, Tower of Terror, for the big screen. Johnasson was first confirmed to be working as a producer on a new Tower of Terror film in 2021. Development on the project was briefly halted following the highly publicized lawsuit with Disney, which stemmed from their decision to release Black Widow on streaming. However, since the settlement, development has resumed. It has been four years since the film was announced, and there has seemingly been no word on the film.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Johansson revealed that, despite the Twilight Zone-inspired ride having lore, turning that into a feature film is a little more troublesome. Josh Cooley, director of Toy Story 4 and Transformers One, was hired to pen the script. The ride's pre-show does feature a setup of five hotel guests getting stuck in another dimension after a lightning bolt hits the tower,...

Four years later, Scarlett Johansson is still stuck in the Twilight Zone while trying to figure out her Tower of Terror update.

After Deadline announced in 2021 that she’ll produce a new film inspired by the Disney World ride and written by Josh Cooley, the 2x Oscar nominee recently teased that the script is “taking shape” as they attempt to flesh out the narrative of the attraction.

“It’s a hard nut to crack,” she told Entertainment Weekly. “Harder than you think, because the ride itself, there’s some lore to it, but it’s… I don’t want to say thin, but it is, kind of!”

Despite the 1997 Wonderful World of Disney movie starring Kirsten Dunst, Johansson explained the ride “doesn’t have so much to dig into” in terms of a film narrative, noting the brief story works better for the spooky theme park attraction.

“That’s part...

It seems the king of bombastic action flicks is ready to "roll out" once more. Michael Bay is reported to be developing a new Transformers movie that he wants to direct, too. Should the project pan out, it would mark his first entry in the franchise in eight years after Transformers: The Last Knight earned $605 million worldwide and effectively ended his run with the Hasbro property.

Transformers fatigue among fans and critics was rampant at the time of Bay's departure, and the franchise has only stumbled in Bay's absence. The most recent release, Transformers One, tried to refresh the saga with a family-friendly, comedic-leaning animated prequel (not canon to Bay's Transformers), but flamed out at the box office.

Live-action fare, on the other hand, has yielded exclusively depreciating returns. Bay's five Transformers films grossed $4.3 billion globally, but Bumblebee earned $467 million, Rise of the Beasts managed $441 million, and the animated Transformers One...

Disney brought the Haunted Mansion back to the big screen in 2023 and up next they’re developing a new movie adaptation of the Tower of Terror ride, which was originally announced back in 2021 with Scarlett Johansson attached to star. The actress reveals in a new interview that while the project has been a “hard nut to crack,” it’s finally starting to take shape.

Johansson tells Entertainment Weekly, “It’s a hard nut to crack. Harder than you think, because the ride itself, there’s some lore to it, but it’s… I don’t want to say thin, but it is, kind of!”

“That’s part of the mystery of the ride. It’s been a fun project to work on, because it’s a blue sky project,” Johansson elaborates. “It has also proved to be a hard nut to crack.

“But, we’ll crack the case of it.

Scarlett Johanssonknows that fans have been waiting a long time for the upcoming Tower of Terrormovie. During a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly about her role as Zora Bennett in Jurassic World Rebirth, Johansson provided an insightful update when it comes to the project that will bring the Disney Parks adaptation to life on the big screen. The Tower of Terror movie was announced a long time ago. Projects such as Black Widow and The Phoenician Scheme have kept Johansson busy while the team behind the movie figured out the perfect storyline to produce. Here's what Scarlett Johansson had to say about the status of the Tower of Terror film:

"It's a hard nut to crack. Harder than you think, because the ride itself, there's some lore to it, but it's... I don't want to say thin, but it is, kind of... That's part of the mystery of the ride.

From 2007 to 2017, Michael Bay directed five live-action films in the Transformers franchise: Transformers (2007), Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011), Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), and Transformers: The Last Knight (2017). After he stepped away, the franchise continued with Bumblebee (directed by Travis Knight) in 2018 and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (directed by Steven Caple Jr.) in 2023. We’ve heard that the next movie in the series would be a G.I. Joe crossover… but that might not be the case, as Puck reports that Bay has pitched a new Transformers project to Paramount Pictures last year, his intention being to return to the franchise as a hands-on producer and potential director. Bay has reportedly chosen Jordan VanDina, writer of the comedies The Binge and It’s a Wonderful Binge, to write a screenplay based on his pitch. Details on the plot and characters are being kept under wraps.

This is...

Eight years since he exited the franchise, Michael Bay is reportedly returning to direct a Transformers film. The new report suggests that talks between Paramount and the filmmaker have been going on for a year now. It is reported that it is a mutually beneficial deal where both parties stand to gain significantly if Bay returns to the helm after Transformers: The Last Knight.

Bay created a unique fanbase for the Transformers movies, starting in 2007. By the time he made his third film, Dark of the Moon, the films were at the peak of their popularity, with this film earning a billion dollars at the box office.

While his next film was also a billion-dollar hit, it was a critical disaster. He dropped out of the franchise after the fifth film, The Last Knight, fell to the $600 million mark at the box office, the lowest for the franchise at that time.

To say that the Transformers franchise has floundered a little since Michael Bay decided to stop directing the feature films wouldn't be much of a stretch. While he's remained on board as a producer, his imprint has been minimal, and it's shown in the box office results. Though 2018's Bumblebee was a modest success despite being a critical hit, it didn't come close to earning as much as Bay's final directorial effort, Transformers: The Last Knight. The same could be said for 2023's Transformers: Rise of the Beastsand last year's Transformers One. Now, it appears as if Paramount is looking to get the franchise back on track as it continues to expand, and Bay could be a big part of its plans.

A new report from Matthew Belloni at Puck suggests that despite Bay being adamant that he'd never return to direct another Transformers movie, the acclaimed producer/director is...

Michael Bay is returning to the Transformers franchise, as he reportedly has a new movie in development that he plans to direct. Bay shepherded the live-action movie franchise based on Hasbro's iconic toy line to the big screen in 2007 and directed five movies overall in his initial tenure.

This era for Transformers was wildly successful, as Michael Bay's movies grossed $4.3 billion. But, unfavorable critical responses and a franchise low $605 million total with Transformers: The Last Knight led Paramount to make changes. The franchise rebooted and started to find critical success. Yet, that came amid box office totals continuing to slide.

Now, Matt Belloni of Puck News reports that Michael Bay is developing a new Transformers movie that he wants to direct. The film currently has Jordan VanDina (The Binge) attached as a writer. The report notes that it was Bay who sought out a Transformers return instead of the studio luring him back.

Michael Bay helmed five Transformers movies, all of which were huge box office hits. Critics didn't love them, and fans were mixed, but the "least" successful of his films made $605 million, with the most successful grossing $1.1 billion.

Bumblebee, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, and Transformers One didn't find the same level of commercial success, even with better reviews, but is Bay the right person to restore the property to its former box office glory?

According to Puck (via SFFGazette.com), the filmmaker is developing a new Transformers movie at Paramount Pictures that he intends to direct. While he wiped his hands with the franchise after Transformers: The Last Knight underperformed in 2017, his recent movies haven't come close to Transformers numbers.

The site explains, "Bay approached the studio last year to come back as a hands-on producer and possibly director, and he's got writer Jordan VanDina working on a script. It's...

Michael Bay is making a big return to the Transformers franchise, eight years after he stepped down as director. According to insider Matthew Belloni, Bay is back working with Paramount and will direct a new Transformers movie.

This is a surprise since Bay had previously said he wouldn’t direct another film after the disappointing performance of 2017’s Transformers: The Last Knight. The screenplay will be written by Jordan VanDina.

Bay’s comeback has been quietly in progress since last year. At first, he was set to join as a producer, but discussions soon shifted toward him directing again. Belloni says this reunion happened because both sides need each other. The Transformers series has seen a steady drop in box office sales since Bay left.

Related: Michael Bay and James Cameron Mourn the Current State of Hollywood: “No one can greenlight anything anymore.”

At the same time, Bay has struggled...

Michael Bay is set to return as director for a new Transformers movie, eight years after stepping away from the franchise. Insider Matthew Belloni revealed that Bay is working with Paramount on this project and will direct the film.

This marks a big comeback for Bay, who had previously said he wouldn’t direct another Transformers movie after the poor financial results of 2017’s Transformers: The Last Knight. The new movie’s screenplay will be written by Jordan VanDina.

The news says Bay’s return has been in the works since last year when he started talks with Paramount. Initially, Bay was going to come back as a producer, but the possibility of directing the new film soon followed.

Belloni explained this reunion happened because both Bay and Paramount need each other. Since Bay left, the Transformers series has seen a steady drop in box office money. Meanwhile, Bay has...

Transformers One director Josh Cooley has said a sequel isn’t happening.The 46-year-old filmmaker had helmed the 2024 flick for Paramount Animation, though Cooley has now said the studio is "not interested" in making a follow-up to Transformers One.Speaking on a panel at the Transformers convention BotCon, the director said: “I wish I had something to announce, but I do not. What I’ve been told is that Paramount Animation is not interested in making a sequel. “That’s what I was told. I wish we could. I have ideas, too. So it would have been cool. We’ll see what happens. You never know.”Transformers One - which stars Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Brian Tyree Henry and Jon Hamm - explores the origins of Optimus Prime and Megatron as allies on Cybertron before a rift turned them into enemies. As war brews, their choices shape the fate of...

The Transformers One director offers a disappointing update on a potential sequel. The 2024 animated Transformers movie, directed by Josh Cooley, explores Optimus Prime and Megatron's untold origins before their rivalry. The original plan was to kick-start a trilogy, with plans for the sequels already mapped out. However, Transformers One only grossed $129.4 million at the box office, which cast some uncertainty on the sequel's future.

Per Collider, Cooley confirmed that Paramount Animation are not moving forward with the Transformers One sequels during a panel at the Transformers' convention BotCon. The director shared that the studio had already informed him that they are "not interested in making a sequel." However, Cooley doesn't shut down the possibility in the future. Read his comment below:

I wish I had something to announce, but I do not. What I’ve been told is that Paramount Animation is not interested in making a sequel. That’s what I was told.

Transformersfans get their first look at the official models for the upcoming Transformers: Cyberworld series, with several major Autobots.

As seen on the official Transformers YouTube channel, the character models for the main cast of the hotly anticipated Transformers: Cyberworld have been released. These include character models for Snarl, Elita-1, Bumblebee, Grimlock and of course, the Autobot's fearless leader Optimus Prime. These models feature each character in their Autobot and vehicle (or prehistoric) forms, as well as a transformation animation from each state to the other.

Transformers: Cyberworld Reveals New Look at Franchise's Star Autobots

Created and written by Ali Lightfoot,Transformers: Cyberworld is the latest in a long line of 3D animated adaptations of the beloved Transformers franchise. Produced by Hasbro Entertainment, the new web series will be hosted on YouTube and is slated for release on July 12. Transformers: Cyberworld will follow the core cast of Optimus Prime, Bumblebee,...

The world of the Transformers is a globally recognized franchise, so when Paramount decided to make the animated prequel movie, Transformers One, it stood to reason that the movie would perform well at the box office. Despite scores of 89% from critics and 97% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie ultimately didn't live up to the billing. As a result, Paramount won’t be rolling out a Transformers One sequel even though the film’s director, Josh Cooley, confirms that he has plans for future installments of the animated prequel movie.

Cooley's work saw Energon miners Orion Pax (voiced by Chris Hemsworth) and D-16 (Brian Tyree Henry) transformed into Optimus Prime and Megatron, the rival leaders of the warring Autobots and Decepticons. Theirs is a rivalry that ensues after teaming up to save Cybertron from the traitorous Sentinel Prime (Jon Hamm) and the Quintessons. Sadly, Cooley will not get to pursue his vision any further.

Despite Transformers Onegetting some of the best reviews in the franchise's history, Paramount Pictures does not look to be interested in a sequel, according to the film's director. Transformers One opened in theaters on Sept. 20, 2024, and was an animated prequel to the iconic franchise, showing how a young Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth) and D-16 (Brian Tyree Henry) went from being friends to mortal enemies as Optimus Prime and Megatron, respectively. Despite an 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie sadly underperformed at the box office, grossing $59.1 million domestically and $129.4 million worldwide against a budget that ranged from $75 to $140 million.

In attendance at BotCon, the annual Transformers convention, Transformers One director Josh Cooley was asked about the sequel's status. Cooley, via Comic Book, did not have good news, saying the last he heard, Paramount Animation had no interest in a sequel. Comic Book reports that Paramount's decision was met by boos and...

Although Transformers One received mostly positive reviews from both fans and critics, it looks like the animated reboot won’t be rolling out a sequel.

Paramount has reportedly scrapped plans for the intended trilogy, reflecting ongoing challenges the studio faces in breathing new life into a franchise that was once a box office juggernaut.

The disappointing update came directly from director Josh Cooley during an 8 Pm panel at Bot Con ’25, held on Saturday in Wayne, Indiana.

Transformers One Q & A panel is going on right now! Jinny Chung, Jon Bailey, and director Josh Cooley are answering all your fan questions!#Transformers #TransformersOne #JoshCooley #Botcon pic.twitter.com/nqahDngDDe

— BotCon ‘25 - June 12-15 (@BotCon) June 14, 2025

Released in 2024, the animated sci-fi film featured a star-studded voice cast, including Chris Hemsworth as Orion Pax/Optimus Prime, Brian Tyree Henry as D-16/Megatron, Keegan-Michael Key as B-127, Scarlett Johansson as Elita-1, Steve Buscemi as Starscream,...

Transformers One's sequel prospects are looking grim, director Josh Cooley revealed. He said the studio lost interest after the film flopped at the box office, despite overwhelming praise from fans and critics.

Paramount will not greenlight a Transformers One sequel. Director Josh Cooley shared the bittersweet news during a Transformers convention panel, to the dismay of fans. "I wish I had something to announce, but I do not. What I've been told is that Paramount Animation is not interested in making a sequel," he said (per Comic Book). "That's what I was told. I wish we could. I have ideas, too. So it would have been cool… We'll see what happens. You never know."

As an origin story of its central characters, Transformers One aimed to revitalize the cinematic universe. Set in a continuity separate from the live-action adaptations, the animated prequel was an exciting addition to the franchise.

Toy Story 4 director Josh Cooley and Ryan Reynolds' production company Maximum Effort are adapting a popular children's book. Cooley most recently directed the animated Transformers One movie, which holds an 89% Tomatometer score and 97% Popcornmeter score. Maximum Effort has produced many of Ryan Reynolds' movies from the past decade, including Deadpool 2, Free Guy, The Adam Project, If, and Deadpool & Wolverine.

As per Deadline, Paramount Animation is developing an adaptation of I Eat Poop: A Dung Beetle Story by Mark Pett, with Reynolds' Maximum Effort producing and Cooley in talks to direct. Award-winning songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who previously worked on Trolls, La La Land, and The Greatest Showman are also set to produce the film adaptation via their production company Ampersand.

What This Means For The I Eat Poop: A Dung Beetle Story Movie It Is Assembling A Great Team

The I Eat Poop movie is...

Ryan Reynolds frequently finds himself dipping into a bit of toilet humor in his projects, and it looks like he is about to go all in with a new project from Maximum Effort that really is a load of sh – oh, apparently it isn't quite what it seems.

Although Reynolds is often seen lowering the tone in many of his movies with lewd jokes and low-brow humor, the new project that he is producing is literally called I Eat Poop. However, all is not as some would expect, as the new animated movie is based on the popular children’s book by Mark Pett, the full title of which is “I Eat Poop: A Dung Beetle Story.” Make more sense now? Good.

According to Deadline, the film will be coming from Paramount Animation, but with Reynolds’ production company also part of the creative team, there is every chance that the...

Gold Derby's top news stories for June 13, 2025.

'American Love Story' first look

Ryan Murphy Productions has share photos from the camera test for American Love Story, offering the first look at Paul Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon as the subjects of the limited series, John F. Kennedy, Jr., and Carolyn Bessette.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ryan Murphy Productions (@ryanmurphyproductions)

A Minecraft Movie gets Max premiere date

Soon you'll be able to trash your own home when Jack Black says "chicken jockey." A Minecraft Movie is scheduled to hit Warner Bros.'s streaming service in one week—on Friday, June 20.

Palm Springs ShortFest announced juries and participants

Gold Derby's editor-in-chief Debra Birnbaum is among the names of jurists just announced for the upcoming Palm Springs ShortFest. The competition, which includes five Oscar-qualifying awards, will run June 24-30. For the complete list of jury members, head...

Exclusive: Paramount Animation is developing I Eat Poop: A Dung Beetle Story based on the popular children’s book by Mark Pett, with Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort producing under their first-look deal with the Melrose Ave. lot.

Josh Cooley, the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind Toy Story 4, is adapting and in talks to direct.

Also producing are Egot-winning songmakers Benj Pasek & Justin Paul via their production company Ampersand. The duo previously worked with Maximum Effort on ditties for the Apple Original Film Spirited starring Reynolds and Will Farrell.

Elizabeth Caren

I Eat Poop follows dung beetle Dougie who starts at a new school in a new town. There he struggles to hide who he is—and what he eats. But when a series of mysterious disappearances plagues the town, Dougie and his whole community discover that what makes them different…might just be what makes them heroes.

Brad Butler is overseeing the project for Paramount Animation.

The year 2025 was especially noteworthy for animated movies. Inside Out 2 and Moana 2 both cracked the $1 billion mark worldwide, while Despicable Me 4 made nearly $1 billion itself, and Mufasa: The Lion King grossed more than $700 million worldwide. Even Kung Fu Panda 4 managed to crack the half-billion mark globally. However, there was a notable outlier. Paramount's Transformers One tanked at the box office despite having earned the best-ever reviews for a Transformers movie. It is now redeeming itself on the Paramount+ streaming charts.

According to FlixPatrol, the movie claimed the number 10 spot on Paramount+ on Wednesday, earning a total of 39 points. It has been averaging 66 points a day this year, having found spots inside the top 10 on 122 days. The movie is also available on HBO Max and iTunes. Directed by Josh Cooley, who remains best known for directing Toy Story 4, Transformers One tells the origin story of...

The tearful goodbye between Woody and Buzz in Toy Story 4 left the future of the beloved franchise shrouded in uncertainty. However, with Toy Story 5 officially set for a June 19, 2026 release, a surprising new detail suggests a significant shift in the toy box dynamics.

Tim Allen, the unmistakable voice of Buzz Lightyear, recently hinted at a major development for the upcoming sequel. While confirming the highly anticipated reunion of Buzz with Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), Allen revealed that Toy Story 5 will place a greater emphasis on another cherished character: Jessie, the spirited cowgirl.

Speaking in a recent interview, Allen teased, "I can tell you that it’s a lot about Jessie. Tom [Hanks] and I do — Woody and I — do realign. And there’s an unbelievable opening scene with Buzz Lightyears. I can give you that, but I can’t give you much more."

While Allen remained tight-lipped on specific plot points,...

We've certainly got a friend in Tom Hanks. It’s been more than two years since it was revealed that the beloved Pixar franchise, Toy Story, would be moving forward with a fifth installment and now, things are finally kicking into gear. Taking to his social media to share the good news with his closest friends (a whopping 9.3 million to be exact), Hanks shared a photo of himself in the voice booth where he'll once again lend his soothing tones to everyone's favorite toy cowboy, Woody, when Toy Story 5 rides into cinemas on June 19, 2026.

Teasing what he was up to, Hanks wrote,

"First day of work on a certain Story Number 5! Need a hint? Disney. Studio B."

While previous installments have been helmed by John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich and Josh Cooley, filmmaker Andrew Stanton takes his turn in the director’s chair for the animated project. No stranger to the long-running franchise,...

There's a cruel irony to "Transformers One," 2024's animated prequel film about the robots in disguise. Directed by Josh Cooley, "Transformers One" is the first great "Transformers" movie — yet we may never get a "Transformers Two."

I like the original 1986 "Transformers: The Movie." I understand why its rock-n-rollin soundtrack ("You've got the touch!") and epic moments -- from Optimus Prime's sacrifice to the planet eater Unicron revealing his enormous true form -- will burn into your brain if you see it at the right age. But the script is pretty slapdash, the animation is richer and more detailed than that in the '80s cartoon but still filled with careless errors, and the whole cynical purpose of the film is galling.

Meanwhile, all of the live-action "Transformers" movies directed by Michael Bay lie on a sliding scale of bad. "Bumblebee" is good, if slight, but then "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" was so boring.

Despite solid storytelling and decent animation effects, Transformers One couldn’t make a significant impact at the box office. With the fall in popularity of Michael Bay’s live-action films and the dull box office of the animated film, Paramount and Hasbro wouldn’t be so sure about their next steps with this franchise. A fan-made video will probably give them the answers they need.

Chris Hemsworth’s Orion Pax and Brian Tyree Henry’s D-16 in Transformers One | Credits: Paramount/Hasbro

A fan, who loved Transformers One, took inspiration from its final fight between Optimus Prime and Megatron and made a stop-motion video of the same. From the visual brilliance of the video, it is clear that the Transformers franchise should bring in Wes Anderson for their next film.

A Transformers stop-motion film like Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox is a brilliant next step A still from Wes...

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Prime Video is ready with an entertainment-packed March this year. The upcoming month will see the return of some of Prime Video’s best original shows, including The Wheel of Time, and also the release of the much-anticipated movie Holland. Just like every month, Prime Video is ready to overload you with great content. So, we’re here to tell you about the best 10 new movies and TV shows coming to Prime Video in March 2025.

Fear Season 1 (March 4) Credit – Prime Video

Fear is an upcoming British crime thriller drama series created by Mick Ford. Based on the 2013 novel of the same name by Dirk Kurbjuweit, the Prime Video series follows a couple as they move from London to Glasgow with their two children to look for a fresh start. Their fresh start soon turns into a nightmare because of a neighbor.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes scored the top honor, outstanding visual effects in a photoreal feature, at the 2025 Visual Effects Society Awards.

Dune: Part Two led the winners list with four wins in the feature categories, while The Wild Robot was named top animated film with four wins as well. Shogun won best photoreal episode, winning three awards. The Penguin also won three awards.

The Ves Awards recognizes “outstanding visual effects artistry and innovation in film, animation, television, commercials, video games and special venues,” according to the organization. This year, comedy duo The Sklar Brothers made their debut as the hosts of the show, while Keanu Reeves presented the Ves Award for Creative Excellence to Shogun actor-producer Hiroyuki Sanada.

Computer graphics researcher Paul Debevec presented VR/Immersive Technology pioneer Dr. Jacquelin Ford Morie with the Georges Melies Award, while Michael Dougherty presented VFX supervisor Takashi Yamazaki with the Visionary Award.

Chris Hemsworth (Orion Pax/Optimus Prime) stars in Paramount Animation and Hasbro Present In Association with New Republic Pictures

A di Bonaventura Pictures Production A Tom Desanto / Don Murphy Production

A Bay Films Production “Transformers One” Taking on the ambitious task of helming a beloved franchise like Transformers with Transformers One, director Josh Cooley knew the stakes were high. These characters hold a special place in the hearts of fans worldwide, and creating a fresh story—a prequel, no less—meant honoring their legacy while steering them in an exciting new direction. Central to this vision was assembling a stellar cast to breathe new life and personality into these iconic roles. Cooley not only rose to the challenge but exceeded expectations, bringing together a lineup of A-list talent, including Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, and Brian Tyree Henry. Once he heard them embody their characters, Cooley knew he had hit the mark.

Transformers remains a popular series, with the franchise having had several theatrical movies in the past decade. While the last of these wasn't the hit it was expected to be, it's "continuing" by way of an unexpected spinoff.

A new series of stop-motion videos for Transformers One will be released on YouTube, with these featuring the toys from the film's accompanying toyline. Added to the official YouTube channel for the brand, the bi-weekly series is meant to mash humor and action in a way that appeals to Pov and streaming content fans. Now about to drop its first episode, the series may be the closest thing that fans of the animated movie get to a sequel.

Related 10 Best Starscream Designs in Transformers, Ranked

In the various Transformers anime, cartoons, games, comics and movies, Starscream has had plenty of great designs worthy of the scheming Seeker.

Transformers Reveals First Look at...

The Visual Effects Society has chimed in on the awards season conversation.

On Tuesday, the visual effects industry’s global honorary society announced nominees for the 23rd Annual Ves Awards — with top Best Visual Effects Oscar contenders Better Man, Dune: Part Two, and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes among the films recognized.

Dune: Part Two led the way among photoreal features with seven nominations, including Best Feature. The Wild Robot led all animated films with five nominations; Shōgun and The Penguin earned four bids each on the TV side.

Wicked and Gladiator II, which are currently predicted to land among the Best Visual Effects Oscar nominees later this month, were both absent from the Best Feature lineup. Instead, the Ves Awards went with Mufasa: The Lion King and Twisters. Last year, just two of the five Best Visual Effects Oscar nominees were similarly nominated in the Ves Awards...

Updated with ceremony hosts: Dune: Part Two scored a leading seven nominations to lead the 2025 Ves Awards, which the Visual Effects Society revealed today. Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi sequel will battle for the marquee Photoreal Feature category against Better Man, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Mufasa: The Lion King and Twisters.

The Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature race is among Blitz, Civil War, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter One, Nosferatu and Young Woman and the Sea. Battling for VFX in an Animated Feature are The Wild Robot — which leads all toon movies with five noms — Inside Out 2, Moana 2, Transformers One and Ultraman: Rising.

Shōgun and The Penguin nabbed received four nominations each to lead in the episodic TV field. See the list of nominees in all 25 categories below.

Related: Visual Effects Society Sets VR Pioneer Jacquelyn Ford Morie For Career Honor At Ves...

The Visual Effects Society (Ves) is the entertainment industry’s only official organization representing the extended global community of visual effects practitioners, including supervisors, artists, producers, technology developers, educators, and studio executives. The 5,000-member Ves body has now selected nominees for its 2025 awards honors in features, animation, television, commercials, games, and new media, as well as the VFX supervisors, VFX producers, and hands-on artists who bring their work to life.

“Dune: Part Two” leads the photoreal feature film field with seven nominations, although nominations include character work on “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” as well as “Better Man” and nominations for the virtuosic digital camerawork in Episode 4 of “House of the Dragon” Season 2, “The Red Dragon and the Gold.”

“The Wild Robot” is the top animated contender with five nominations. “Shōgun” and “The Penguin” each received four nominations in the episodic field, with “The Penguin” also nominated for...

The Visual Effects Society (Ves) announced its nominees for the 2025 Ves Awards, a celebration which annually “recognizes outstanding visual effects artistry and innovation in features animation, television, commercials, games and new media.”

Dune: Part Two led the film nominations with seven nods, while Shogun and The Penguin tie in the episodic field with four each. The Wild Robot led the animation field with five.

“The artistry, ingenuity and passion of visual effects practitioners around the world have come together to create remarkable imagery,” says Kim Davidson, Ves Chair. “We are seeing best in class work that elevates the art of storytelling and exemplifies the spirit of innovation. The Ves Awards is the only venue that showcases and honors these outstanding artists across a wide range of disciplines, and we are extremely proud of our nominees.”

The nominees in 25 categories were selected by Ves members at 49 in-person and virtual panels around the world.

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

2024 was a great year for sci-fi fans, as many brilliant movies like Dune: Part Two came out this year. The sci-fi genre has always been one of the most beloved among cinephiles as it gives us a new look at a particular technology or our world. So, let’s check out which of the best sci-fi movies that came out last year you should not miss.

The Substance (Mubi & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Mubi

The Substance is a sci-fi body horror film written and directed by Coralie Fargeat. The 2024 film follows Elisabeth Sparkle, an aging celebrity who is slowly losing her fame. She soon discovers a black market drug that can create a younger version of herself, but that comes with unexpected side effects. The Substance stars Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid, Edward Hamilton Clark, Gore Abrams,...

“Transformers One” is the first fully animated Transformers movie since 1986’s deeply traumatic “Transformers: The Movie,” which was notable for, among other things, killing off Optimus Prime. In the years since, the series from Hasbro and Paramount was mounted as live-action features, with the latest, “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts,” coming out in 2023.

Not that “Transformers One” is concerned with any of this. Instead of getting lost in the lore, it offers a fresh approach, following a young Optimus Prime, here known as Orion Pax (voiced by Chris Hemsworth) and his bestie D-16, who will one day become his sworn enemy Megatron (voiced by Brian Tyree Henry). They are just trying to prove that they are truly more than meets the eye — even if at the beginning of the movie they can’t even transform.

Director Josh Cooley, who won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature for “Toy Story 4,...

The Transformers franchise is no stranger to weird and unexpected crossovers, especially when it comes to movie tie-ins. Now, the series is given a particularly athletic one that promotes the franchise's latest movie -- months after it was released.

The German soccer team Borussia Dortmund is now collaborating with the Transformers brand -- specifically, the animated movie Transformers One. As part of the team, a familiar yellow Autobot shows off his soccer skills in a new promotional video. The choice of Transformer also matches the sport club's aesthetic, meaning that there's more than meets the eye to this mashup besides a strangely-timed alliance.

Related Transformers Revives One of Its Biggest Action Figures Ever Released in New Trypticon Sneak Peek

Trypticon returns in the latest Transformers toyline, with a massive rereleased action figure further evoking the Decepticon's G1 appearance.

Bumblebee Kicks Things Into High Gear With Transformers Soccer Collab View this...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

The "Transformers" cartoons got their hooks into me as a kid, and to this day I care more about these Robots in Disguise than I probably should. Director Josh Cooley's animated prequel "Transformers One" is, honestly, the "Transformers" movie I wanted when I was 12, even more so than Travis Knight's also very good "Bumblebee."

"Transformers One" is a prequel film, showing how Optimus Prime and Megatron went from best pals to leading a war on opposite sides. Ever wondered why Decepticons brand themselves with a name evoking "Deception"? This is the movie for you!

In "Transformers One," Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth) and D-16 (Brian Tyree Henry) are Energon miners on a pre-war Cybertron, toiling away together underground. Like other members of their miner class, the pair do not have the "cogs" necessary to transform. D-16 prefers to stay on protocol,...

The “Transformers One” script written by Eric Pearson and Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari is now available to view online, exclusive to IndieWire. You can read the screenplay for the first animated “Transformers” film since 1986 here.

Despite a steady stream of “Transformers” films the past 17 years, one medium that felt untouchable to producers was the very one that made audiences across the world initially fall in love with these robots in disguise. Hence, when it came time to tell the long-awaited origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, Paramount finally did so through animation, with “Transformers One” directed by Best Animated Feature Oscar winner Josh Cooley.

Barrer and Ferrari, the first writers on the project that sees characters Orion Pax, D-16, and more transform into the iconic characters we know them as today, told IndieWire via statement, “From the moment we pitched the idea, our goal was to tell a story...

In Josh Cooley's "Toy Story 4," Woody (Tom Hanks) falls out of his family's Rv on a road trip, and falls in with a group of lost toys. As audiences know from the previous "Toy Story" movies, toys are only happy when children play with them, and lost toys have found a way to travel throughout a neighborhood's multiple public parks, burying themselves in sandboxes right when certain preschools break for the day. Lost toys live in a strange state of chaotic bliss. 

Toys that don't get played with, meanwhile, become bitter and evil. This was true of the old prospector Stinky Pete (Kelsey Grammer) in 1999's "Toy Story 2," and it's certainly true of Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks) in "Toy Story 4." Gabby is a decades-old talking doll that has wound up in a small-town antique store. No one will buy Gabby, however, because her inner voice box broke many years ago.

Bryan Tyree Henry is hopeful about Transformers One's chances of a sequel, and is eager to explore the further foundational events in the coming war for Cybertron. The 2024 animated feature is a prequel to the Transformers movie franchise, exploring how miners Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth) and D-16 (Henry) rose to become the legendary leaders Optimus Prime and Megatron, respectively. Alongside Hemsworth and Henry, Transformers One's cast also includes Scarlett Johansson, Keegan Michael-Key, Jon Hamm, Laurence Fishburne, and Steve Buscemi as many of the key characters who would reshape Cybertron.

While no official confirmation of a Transformers One sequel has been given, Henry revealed that he is still hopeful that a sequel will be greenlit when speaking to Screen Rant. When asked whether there had been a new update on the potential future of the Transformers animated movie series, Henry stated that he was hopeful that the franchise's future...

Pixar’s biggest and most popular franchise is Toy Story, and thanks to its confirmed expansion, its most controversial movie has now gotten so much better. As the movie that kicked off Pixar’s reign in the world of animation, it’s fitting that it became the studio’s biggest franchise. With four movies, one spinoff, and various short films, animated TV shows, and TV specials, Toy Story has built a solid fanbase that keeps welcoming new stories from this one-of-a-kind world with open arms. The Toy Story franchise is now expanding with a fifth movie, to be released in 2026.

What’s known about the plot of Toy Story 5 so far is that it will see the beloved toys fighting technology, including an army of Buzz Lightyear toys controlled by computers. The confirmation of Toy Story 5 was both surprising and expected, as the story of Woody (voiced by...

To celebrate the release of Transformers One available to Buy on Digital, 4K Uhd + Blu-ray SteelBook®, 4K Uhd, Blu-ray and DVD December 10th and to rent from December 24th 2024, we are giving away a Transformers One themed merch bundle to one lucky winner!

The Transformers One themed merchandise bundle includes;

a Blu-Ray copy of the film, Get into Character with Transformers Ones clothing and nightwear from Character.com Transformers One children’s onesie (Size 10), Transformers One T-Shirt and Short set (Size 12), Optimus Prime Power Flip toy – Bring home the epic origins of legendary Transformers robots, with the Transformers One Power Flip Optimus Prime (Orion Pax)! Recreate the iconic character right from the Transformers One movie – with 4 transformation modes! Ar Vanch cards = Calling All Autobots in the Ar World! Transformers One Pyjamas.

Discover the untold story of how legendary leaders Optimus Prime and Megatron went from brothers-in-arms to sworn enemies in...

Current and former Doctor Who showrunners Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat, in a discussion on Radio Times, affirmed their beliefs that AI was not going to replace them any time soon. Doctor Who has never used AI in its production, however, earlier in the year, the BBC received criticism of generative AI use to promote the show.

Current showrunner Davies - who brought about the show’s revival in 2005 - discussed with Moffat, who succeeded him as showrunner from 2010-17, the use of AI in media. Both showrunners felt that while they understand its usefulness, it is ultimately a finite source of creativity.

Related Doctor Who's Best Season Finale Is Not the One Fans Celebrate the Most

Doctor Who has been back on TV for almost 20 years, but one early finale still stands out as the modern series' crowning achievement.

Doctor Who, or The Doctor, the ancient beyond-belief...

A roundtable filled with the directors of the biggest animated films of the year discuss the impact of AI and how it will affect the future of animation.

Animated films by major studios are seeing something of a resurgence this year. Inside Out 2 became the highest grossing animated film of all time, albeit with a cost to the animators who worked so hard to make it happen. The newly released Moana 2 is breaking records as well, with some even suggesting it might surpass Inside Out 2. However, there is a potential threat looming over the future of animation--and even film itself: AI. Jeffrey Katzenberg, one of the founders of Dreamworks and a major player in the history of animation, said that generative AI could mean an end to 90 percent of animated jobs. The directors of these successful animated films shared their thoughts on the matter in a roundtable hosted by The Hollywood Reporter.

In an increasingly polarized, complex and scary world, animated films are one of our last havens of pure communal joy. Divisions between red and blue, left and right, wokes and deplorables fall away when we collectively gather in a movie theater to hear stories of inner emotions transformed into quippy cartoons, to watch the adventures of elemental gods and sentient robots (or sentient garden gnomes), to ponder the marvels of real-world creativity through the medium of children’s building blocks.

THR invited the directors of some of the biggest and buzziest animated films in this year’s awards season — Josh Cooley, director of Paramount’s Transformers One; Kelsey Mann, the helmer behind Pixar’s Inside Out 2, the highest-grossing animated film of all time; Dana Ledoux Miller, one of the directors of Disney’s Moana 2 (along with David Derrick and Jason Hand); Morgan Neville, who helmed Piece by Piece,...