BUMBLEBEE...

Earlier today, Paramount Pictures released the teaser trailer for the Transformers spin-off film Bumblebee...out in theaters nationwide on December 21. Unlike the five previous Transformers movies—which were all directed by Michael Bay—Bumblebee is helmed by Travis Knight, who previously directed the 2016 animated film Kubo and the Two Strings. Leading the cast of the Autobot flick are Oscar-nominated actress Hailee Steinfeld and John Cena, as well as Martin Short, Vanessa Ross, John Ortiz, Kenneth Choi and Peter Cullen (who's once again voicing Optimus Prime). Bumblebee was supposed to be the first of various spin-off movies that would form Transformers' new cinematic universe (a la the DC, Marvel and Star Wars franchises), but in the wake of The Last Knight's 'underwhelming' box office last year (it made $605.4 million worldwide, while Age of Extinction and Dark of the Moon both earned $1.1 billion globally in 2014 and 2011, respectively), is unfortunately no longer the case.



It was refreshing to hear a voice-over by the late Bernie Mac—who played Bobby Bolivia in the first Transformers movie—at the beginning of the trailer. Optimus Prime aside, Bumblebee is the most popular Autobot in the entire cinematic franchise...and those memorable quotes from the 2007 film help convey the feel that the Bumblebee movie will go back to what made the original live-action Transformers film so endearing in the first place: a human buys a car that he (now she) suddenly discovers is actually a giant alien robot that the person eventually befriends and goes on many adventures with. And in case you're wondering, Dario Marianelli (who worked on such flicks as 2015's Everest and 2005's V for Vendetta) is scoring the music for Bumblebee, not long-time Transformers composer Steve Jablonsky.

You can view the preview itself at the very bottom of this entry.

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SICARIO 2: SOLDADO...

So I just found out online this morning that the 2015 action crime drama Sicario was given a sequel! Sicario 2: Soldado is set to hit theaters nationwide on June 29 of next year...with Benicio Del Toro reprising his role as the hired assassin named Alejandro, Josh Brolin as CIA operative Matt Graver and Jeffrey Donovan as fellow CIA associate Steve Forsing. While Emily Blunt won't be back as FBI agent Kate Macer, Catherine Keener (Get Out), Isabela Moner (Transformers: The Last Knight) and Matthew Modine (The Dark Knight Rises) have joined the cast. Awesome. Oh, and Stefano Sollima follows in Denis Villeneuve's (who helmed the first Sicario movie and this year's Blade Runner 2049) footsteps as Soldado's director. Check out the new trailer at the bottom of this entry.

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The STAR WARS: EPISODE VIII Title Has Been Revealed!

The Last Jedi... That will be the name for this December's eighth installment in the Star Wars saga. For the most part, I like it. Of course, I like anything Star Wars-related that doesn't involve Jar Jar Binks or post-Phantom Menace Darth Maul. I was hoping for a more sinister title like Fall of the Resistance or Death to the Resistance—especially considering that these would-be titles are consistent with the four-worded format for previous middle episodes Attack of the Clones and The Empire Strikes Back. Oh well.

And on a more humorous matter, Transformers fans around the Internet are probably joking that Michael Bay wants his title back! ('Cause you know, The Last Knight hits theaters nationwide on June 23?) I guess this is Lucasfilm's revenge for 2009's Revenge of the Fallen (there was an online joke that George Lucas wanted his title back for that one...in reference to 2005's Revenge of the Sith). Or not. Can't wait for The Last Jedi's first trailer to be unveiled soon! Happy Monday.

Transformers: The Last Knight... The First Trailer Is Here!

Check out the first official preview to Michael Bay's fifth installment in the Transformers franchise at the bottom of this entry! With Mark Wahlberg returning as Cade Yeager and Josh Duhamel making his first appearance as Lt. Colonel Lennox since 2011's Dark of the Moon, The Last Knight looks to be the biggest movie yet in the giant alien robot series. Oh, and it doesn't hurt that Sir Anthony Hopkins will join Stanley Tucci, Frances McDormand and John Malkovich as the latest Oscar nominee/winner to mingle with the Autobots and/or the Decepticons on the big screen. And of course, Megatron returns while Optimus Prime looks to have been affected by his trip into deep space at the conclusion of 2014's Age of Extinction. Don't hurt Bumblebee, Optimus... He's your friend! Check out the trailer below to know what I'm babbling about (and to see the scenes that were shot in the IMAX format). The Last Knight hits theaters nationwide on June 23, 2017.

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TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT - The Autobots and Decepticons Get New Robotic Looks...

Check out these awesome illustrations depicting the new designs for the Autobots and Decepticons that'll be returning in next year's Transformers: The Last Knight! Megatron will go back to his former name after being called Galvatron in 2014's Age of Extinction, while Barricade apparently survived his wounds from the Battle of Chicago in 2011's Dark of the Moon. And Hot Rod finally makes his live-action debut during Michael Bay's fifth installment in the blockbuster franchise. Though I'm wondering... Is Sqweeks supposed to be the Autobots' version of The Force Awakens' BB-8? Wouldn't be surprised if he is. BB-8 is cool.

Much props to the Transformers Live Action Movie Blog for compiling these pictures.

THE LAST KNIGHT: Transformers 5 Gets an Official Title!

Principal photography for Michael Bay's fifth installment in the hugely-successful Transformers franchise is set to begin next month. With Mark Wahlberg and Peter Cullen back on-board (along with Josh Duhamel and possibly Tyrese Gibson), Transformers: The Last Knight will hit theaters on June 23, 2017. I can dig it.