Michael Bay Tweets International Trailer For Transformers: The Last Knight

“The final battle is upon us.” Director Michael Bay recently tweeted a new international trailer for “Transformers: The Last Knight,” the fifth installment of the franchise. Since this will be Bay’s last hurrah as director of “Transformers,” it looks like he’s going all out. With only two weeks to go before its release, “Transformers: The Last Knight” is shaping up to be the antithesis of everything we’ve seen from the franchise before. Keep the robots, the epic battles, the explosions. Take everything else you knew about the “Transformers” universe and throw it out the window.

Photo via Paramount Pictures

Humans Versus Transformers: The Earth At War

The new “Transformers: The Last Knight” international trailer unveils a world where humans and transformers are at war. A colossal three-headed fire-breathing mecha-dragon soars through the skies. The robot butler Cogman (voiced by Jim Carter) comes to retrieve Cade Yaeger (Mark Wahlberg), displaying some surprising strength as he takes down a large transformer. Then – in a surprising twist – we hear Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen) seemingly condemning Earth to die.

And there again is the big question that “The Last Knight” has teased since the release of its first trailer in December last year. Has Optimus Prime switched sides? What led him to fight against the other Autobots, particularly his loyal friend Bumblebee? The newest trailer adds another layer to the mystery. What does Optimus mean when he says that for his world to live, the Earth must die?

Photo via Paramount Pictures

The Debut of Hot Rod in the Transformers Franchise

Apart from the mystery of Optimus Prime’s seeming betrayal, the newest “Transformers” movie has a lot more to offer. For one, the much-anticipated debut of Hot Rod (voiced by Jean Dujardin). Reckless, headstrong, and arrogant, Hot Rod in the cartoon matures into Rodimus Prime and inherits the title of Autobot leader from Optimus Prime. In whatever universe, Hot Rod has always been a bit of a divisive element among the Autobots. His ascension to Autobot leader in the cartoons is irrevocably tied to Optimus Prime’s death. Will this backstory be mirrored on the big screen?

In Transformers: The Last Knight, Hot Rod debuts in the unlikely role of an old car that belonged to the father of Viviane Wembley (Laura Haddock). An undercover agent for the Autobots, Hot Rod protects Viviane. Their relationship likely plays a large role in the film. Later, Hot Rod sheds his guise in favor of an updated look as he transforms into a red Lamborghini.

New Character Posters for Transformers: The Last Knight

Paramount also unveiled thirteen new character posters prior to the release of the new international trailer. The simple, monochromatic posters feature old and new characters accompanied by a single word hinting at their role in the movie.

Photo via Paramount Pictures

The posters of new characters Cogman, Hot Rod and Viviane Tremblay state “Serve,” “Rise,” and “Believe” respectively. Fitting considering what we know of them. Cogman essentially serves as the robot butler of historian Sir Edmund Burton (Anthony Hopkins). Viviane Tremblay learns a secret of the transformers, leading her to believe – though in what remains unclear. And Hot Rod’s “Rise” may refer to his taking on the mantle of Autobot leader. Disturbingly, Optimus Prime’s own poster – proclaiming “Destroy – seems to further cement his betrayal of the Autobots and of Earth.

“Transformers: The Last Knight” premieres June 21, 2017. Watch the trailer below: