Transformers One is the latest installment in the film franchise based on the Hasbro toy line. The film serves as a prequel to the previous installments, detailing the story of Optimus Prime and his earlier relationship with Megatron, which forever changes the fate of their home planet, Cybertron. It is directed by Josh Cooley, who recently broke down the film’s place in the franchise.
During an interview, Cooley spoke about the franchise’s lore, especially the origins of the Autobots and Deceptions, which are detailed in the film. The director compared the film with the first Star Wars movie in that regard. As a result, Cooley hoped that the film would be able to please different generations of Transformers fans, and here is what he had to say.
Transformers One Josh Cooley Hopes Film Will Please Fans Like the Original Star Wars Movie
Director Josh Cooley helmed Transformers One, which serves as an origin story for Optimus Prime and Megatron. The film is set on Cybertron and explores the planet’s downfall. Cooley sat down for an interview with Gizmodo, where he discussed different aspects of the prequel film.
Cooley spoke about expanding the overall lore and ensuring that it fits with preestablished aspects of the franchise. The filmmaker compared his approach to the franchise’s lore with the first Star Wars movie, citing it as an exciting entry point for new fans while it also serves as a gold standard for existing fans.
I kept thinking of it like the original Star Wars, just the very first one. If you’re a superfan, great, but also you can come into that completely cold and get thrown into the universe and understand the history and everything.
Cooley made the above statement regarding his approach while admitting that balancing the lore for new and old fans was a particularly demanding challenge.
The director explained that it was difficult to find the right balance of the lore, with the script sometimes being too heavy and very light on other occasions. As a result, Cooley and the creative team initially struggled with balancing the lore but ultimately decided to keep the aspects that were crucial to the core story.
Josh Cooley Revealed What Attracted Him to Transformers One Script
During the same interview, Cooley also touched upon the film’s core story which primarily revolves around Orion Pax / Optimus Prime, voiced by Chris Hemsworth, and D-16 / Megatron, voiced by Brian Tyree Henry. The filmmaker revealed the dynamic between the two characters and their eventual turn to becoming enemies attracted him to the script.
What grabbed my attention was the fact that it was an origin story and it was about this friendship falling apart. Which, I thought was like, ‘Man, if I could tell that story with just Transformers? That would be really amazing.’
Cooley stated the above, highlighting the film’s emotional core revolving around the friendship between the two main characters. The director also noted that the film’s sci-fi aspects, primarily the setting of Cyberton made him more excited to tackle the movie.
Ultimately, Cooley praised the film’s script and cited it as an exciting prospect. Therefore, it is clear that the script is the primary reason the director wanted to be involved with the project. Given Cooley’s comments about the script, especially its handling of the franchise’s lore, the movie is bound to please most superfans.
Transformers One was released on September 20, 2024, and is now playing in theaters near you.
