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The Transformers movie franchise avoided a disastrous decision early on that would have completely changed the characters. Paramount, Steven Spielberg, and Michael Bay launched the Transformers franchise in 2007. The first movie finally brought the popular characters created from Hasbro toys to live-action. This included bringing fan-favorite Autobots like Optimus Prime and Bumblebee to the forefront so they could interact with Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) and Mikaela Barnes (Megan Fox).
Despite the divisive nature of some sequels, Michael Bay’s first Transformers movie was a huge hit that launched one of Hollywood’s biggest franchises of the next decade. Each movie has brought humans and Transformers together on new adventures, oftentimes having the main human character form a strong relationship with Bumblebee. But while Bumblebee traditionally cannot talk, the Transformers films were able to flesh out many of the other Autobot characters over time through the conversations they had with each other. However, the franchise almost ruined this opportunity from the start.
The Transformers Originally Didn’t Speak In The First Movie
The earliest drafts and discussions about the first Transformers movie did not include any of the Transformers talking. Paramount originally hired writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman to pen the script. Orci confirmed in a 2007 interview with IGN that the first draft of the script did not include anything from the perspective of the Transformers characters. It revolved completely around Sam and Mikaela. This was done so the writers could try to figure out the human side of the story first, and it was not until additional drafts were done that Orci and Kurtzman began fleshing out the Autobots and letting the Transformers talk.
Paramount executives also pushed back on the idea of having the Transformers talk at all in the Transformers movie. Orci told Wizard Magazine that the studio was worried that the movie was not going to be able to pull off talking robots realistically. Luckily, Orci and Kurtzman helped push back on that idea and started giving the Transformers dialogue, knowing that fans of the IP would revolt if the movie did not have Transformers talking.
Transformers Not Speaking Would Have Ruined The Franchise
The idea that Transformers could have happened without the Transformers characters talking would have ruined the franchise before it even began. This would take away some iconic parts of the franchise like Optimus Prime’s speeches. It also would have meant removing some of the group dynamics that occur between the Autobots. Furthermore, it could have relegated the Transformers more to the side of the story, where they are only used for action scenes instead of playing a role in the franchise’s emotional stakes.
It also presents a very different version of Michael Bay’s Transformers that is completely told from Sam and Mikaela’s perspective. This would have only increased the role that human characters play in the movies, which is the opposite of what most wanted as the franchise continued. The Transformers movies would have had an even more difficult time capturing the essence of the property and arguably turn away a greater amount of fans in the process by making such a sizable change.
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