Transformers One: Release date, voice cast, plot & more

Optimus Prime in Transformers OneParamount Pictures

Autobots, assemble! The robots in disguise are back, in cartoon form, so here’s all you need to know about the Transformers One release date, who’s voicing the characters, and more.

Only a year after the Autobots’ most recent outing with Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, these heroic robots are returning to the big screen once again, with a twist.

Taking the prequel route, the new movie will focus on the early days of Optimus Prime and Megatron, telling the tale of how these two legendary franchise figures (and sworn enemies) came to be.

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Naturally, this animated movie is a huge deal for fans, especially considering the star power behind it. Here, we’ve got everything you need to know to make sure you’re ready to “roll out” when the time comes.

Transformers One release date

Transformers One will release in theaters on Sunday, September 20, 2024.

This comes after a little back-and-forth for the Autobots. The movie was previously scheduled for July 2024, before being pushed back to September 13, 2024. After the first trailer was released (see below), the date was then moved again to September 20, 2024.

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Is there a trailer?

Yes! The latest Transformers One trailer was released on July 25, 2024. You can watch it for yourself below:

The new trailer dropped at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, and gives us a great look at the villain, Sentinel Prime. We also see the Iacon 5000 race, and the Autobots getting their cogs.

The first trailer for the movie arrived in April, and you can watch it below. Any Transformers trailer is exciting, but this one was launched from space!

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Who’s in the cast?

The Transformers One cast is star-studded, to say the least. Leading the voice cast is Chris Hemsworth, who’ll voice the legendary Optimus Prime.

Here’s the full Transformers One cast:

  • Chris Hemsworth as Orion Pax / Optimus Prime
  • Brian Tyree Henry as D-16 / Megatron
  • Scarlett Johansson as Elita
  • Keegan-Michael Key as B-127 / Bumblebee
  • Steve Buscemi as Starscream
  • Laurence Fishburne as Alpha Trion
  • Jon Hamm as Sentinel Prime

Fans were divided over Chris Hemsworth’s Optimus Prime voice after first hearing it, so expect it to be a talking point once the film comes out. Peter Cullen is a tough act to follow, after all. But, at SDCC 2024, Hemsworth himself praised his predecessor, and insisted he would never try to imitate the “iconic” voice actor.

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Fun fact, Hemsworth also revealed he and Brian Tyree Henry spent months together bonding so that their characters, Optimus Prime and Megatron, would have a better relationship. How cute!

The movie was directed by Joshua Cooley, who’s known for directing Toy Story 4 and being one of the writers behind Inside Out. Of course, you can’t keep Michael Bay away from this franchise, and the live-action director is also a producer on the new film.

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Cooley spoke about the project at San Diego Comic-Con, claiming this is the best script he’s ever read. He also praised Jon Hamm as being “amazing” and “fantastic” as the sinister Sentinel Prime.

Meanwhile, Keegan Michael-Key has spoken about how happy he is that his version of Bumblebee actually gets to talk. The character has previously been mute in other iterations.

Comic-Con also brought big news on Steve Buscemi’s involvement. It was previously unknown who he would play, but we now know he’s playing Starscream, Megatron’s right-hand man.

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Transformers One plot

Transformers One is the origin story for Optimus Prime and Megatron, taking place on their home planet of Cybertron.

Optimus Prime and Megatron are, of course, sworn enemies as the franchise knows them. But it wasn’t always that way, and Transformers One will explore their initial friendship and the tale of how Cybertron evolved. As such, we should also get some context for how the ongoing war between Autobots and Decepticons began.

The Transformers in Transformers OneParamount Pictures

The official synopsis is as follows: “Transformers One is the untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, better known as sworn enemies, but once were friends bonded like brothers who changed the fate of Cybertron forever.”

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The movie’s producer, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, explained at SDCC how this film will be “completely different” from the franchise at large. He said the project came with a lot of freedom, and will allow fans to “see the world in a new way”.

According to di Bonaventura, there’s also plenty of scope for further films, with a potential trilogy on the horizon. Speaking to JoBlo, Bonaventura said: “We’re hoping that there is enough emotional construct to that, that would lead to a trilogy of it because, personally, I think there’s a natural trilogy… you’re going to see Cybertron in a way you’ve never seen it, that no one’s ever seen it before.”

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What’s the age rating?

The official age rating for Transformers One hasn’t been released yet.

However, the last two Transformers movies, Rise of the Beasts and Bumblebee, were PG-13. With the new movie being animated, we could probably count on this being the case for Transformers One, too.

Where can I watch Transformers One?

Upon release, Transformers One will only be available to watch in theaters.

In all likelihood, it’ll then release on the Paramount+ streaming service a few months after the theatrical rollout, as well as becoming available on Amazon Prime Video and the like to rent or buy.

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For more, check out our guide to all the best movies of 2024 so far. You can also keep up to date with Chris Hemsworth with our Thor 5 guide, and see what we know about Extraction 3.

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