Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Autobots Revealed
Director Steven Caple Jr. just revealed a first look at the “Autobots” and “Terrorcons” cars from the upcoming film Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Caple shared two images to his Instagram page, with each photo highlighting a different group of automotive characters.
These images are the first official set photos from the film since Transformers: Rise of the Beasts was announced by Paramount Pictures. While there are only two pictures available, they give a reasonably detailed look at the vehicular characters that audiences can expect.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will feature a Nissan R33 GT-R
Three “Terrorcon” vehicles were revealed in the photos that Caple shared, including a GMC 7000 tow truck, a Peterbilt semi-truck with serious Mad Max vibes, and then the vehicle that really grabbed our attention, a Nissan R33 Skyline GT-R.
It looks like the Skyline GT-R will fill a possibly sinister role in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. The dark grey R33 Skyline GT-R sports some bronze accents with purple wheels and purple JGTC-style side mirrors.
However, what sets the R33 GT-R off is what looks to be a brand new widebody kit from Pandem, a brand from TRA Tokyo. TRA Tokyo also produces the fan-favorite “Rocket Bunny” body kits that can be found at just about any JDM car meet in the country these days.
TRA Tokyo CEO and chief designer Kei Muira posted a CG video of the identical Nissan R33 to his Instagram account, seemingly confirming his involvement with that particular vehicle.
Autobots return in 80s inspired form
Caple shared a larger group of Autobot vehicles, and it looks like there is heavy inspiration from the original 1980s Transformers cartoon. Unlike in the 2007 film, it appears that Optimus Prime is going back to a Freightliner Semi-truck just like he was in the 80s cartoon. It also looks like Jazz is returning but as a 964 Porsche 911 rather than a 935 “slant nose” as he was depicted in the 80s cartoon.
There is a vintage Ducati sportbike, but it is unclear which Autobot character that could be. We speculate that it could either be an 80s version of the more modern character “Arcee” or a reimaging of the original “G1” character “Groove.”
“Bumblebee” is back, but he is in his 1977 Chevrolet Camaro form as he appeared in the first Transformers film. In the movie Bumblebee, the character appeared as a Volkswagen Beetle, which is how he was depicted in the original cartoon. In the 2007 film, Bumblebee was changed to a Camaro as part of a General Motors product placement agreement.
The film will take place in the early 90s
According to a report from MovieWeb, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will take place in 1994, making it the second Transformers film to focus on a specific period. Bumblebee took place in 1987 and featured music and background cars relevant to the era.
Considering that Rise of the Beasts takes place in the 90s, it is reasonable to predict that some iconic 90s sports cars might appear in the film. There is no official confirmation of other characters or background vehicles since the film is still in early production. Still, the inclusion of the Nissan Skyline R33 GT-R lends credence to the possibility that other 90s JDM supercars might get some screen time.
We will all find out together when Transformers: Rise of the Beasts hits theaters in 2022.
