Interviews

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Producer Discusses Introducing Maximals to the Big Screen

August 23, 2023

2 mins read

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Producer On Bringing Maximals To The Big Screen

In Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, get ready for an epic team-up between the Maximals and Autobots on the big screen! Join former soldier and tech expert Noah Diaz and history buff museum researcher Elena Wallace as they stumble upon Autobot and Maximal Transformers. Together, they must join forces with the Autobots and Maximals to save Earth from the planet-destroying force known as Unicron, the enemy of the Transformers.

Directed by Steven Caple Jr., Transformers: Rise of the Beasts brings together an incredible cast of Transformers. With a script written by Joby Harold, Darnell Metayer, Josh Peters, Erich Hoeber, and Jon Hoeber, this film stars Peter Cullen, Pete Davidson, Liza Koshy, Ron Perlman, Michelle Yeoh, Peter Dinklage, and David Sobolov as the voices of the Transformers. Joining them are Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Lauren Luna Vélez, Tobe Nwigwe, and Dean Scott Vazquez.

In an exclusive interview with FilmmakerFocus, producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura shares insights about Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. He discusses the exciting challenges of introducing the Maximals into the Transformers universe and setting the film in the 1990s. Di Bonaventura also addresses the fan theory that John Cena’s character in Bumblebee is Duke from GI Joe.

Lorenzo Di Bonaventura on Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

FilmmakerFocus: Get ready for an epic adventure with Transformers: Rise of the Beasts! This installment is bound to be a fan favorite. Let’s dive into the fascinating world of the Maximals and how they stand out from the other Transformers.

Lorenzo Di Bonaventura: Prepare to be amazed by the Maximals! We’ve put a lot of thought into bringing together cars and animals in a way that feels organic and unique. The challenge with the Maximals was finding a way to incorporate them into our urban-based movie setting while still allowing them to hide. That’s why we decided to take them to the Peruvian jungle. It’s been a topic of discussion for a while, and we finally found the perfect adventure story to showcase their abilities.

Step back in time to the ’90s with Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. What inspired this nostalgic decision and how does it shape the story?

Lorenzo Di Bonaventura: The ’90s setting has a significant impact on the film in multiple ways. Building on the success of Bumblebee, which took place in 1987, we wanted to continue the timeline. 1994 was a remarkable year for hip-hop, and we wanted to capture the cultural essence of Brooklyn during that time. Additionally, we wanted to juxtapose it with the rich heritage of Peru, including the indigenous people and the Incan legacy.

Steven did an incredible job directing this movie. Let’s talk about his collaboration and how his unique style elevated the film. It’s worth mentioning that he’s a huge fan of Beast Wars as well.

Lorenzo Di Bonaventura: Absolutely! Steven’s passion for Beast Wars made him the perfect choice for this project. His work is known for its humanity and well-developed characters, which was exactly what we wanted to emphasize in this story. We wanted to balance the emotional depth with the grand scale of the Transformers universe. It’s always a challenge to keep the human characters engaged when they’re up against giant robots, but Steven’s directing style brought out the best in both.

Here’s a fun theory I had after watching Bumblebee. Is John Cena’s character possibly Duke from GI Joe? Can you confirm or deny that?

Lorenzo Di Bonaventura: While I can deny that theory, I understand why you made that connection. John Cena brought a similar energy to his character, but they are not the same. I would love to work with John again in the future. He’s a fantastic actor, and who knows what exciting projects lie ahead.

Into the series.

About Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

Optimus Prime with his blaster aimed in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

In 1994 Brooklyn, New York a former soldier and a museum employee are pulled into a fight for their world when the Autobot Transformers and Maximals team up to fight against the destructive force of Unicron. The Transformers and humans must work together to protect Earth from being consumed by Unicron.

Check out our other Transformers: Rise of the Beasts interviews here:

Anthony Ramos & Dominique Fishback
Tobe Nwigwe & Liza Koshy
Peter Dinklage
Jongnic Bontemps

Key Release Date

Owen Montenegro

Owen, a film production graduate from the University of Miami, honed his skills on various sets and independent film projects. His experiences as a camera operator and editor lend a practical perspective to his articles, where he shares practical tips and tricks for aspiring filmmakers.