Transformers 5 Makes a Big Change to Bumblebee

Transformers: The Last Knight introduces a much wider Transformers movie universe, including new Autobots and Decepticons that are carrying on the battle over earth, in the absence of Optimus Prime and Megatron.

However, there are still some familiar franchise characters that return in Transformers: The Last Knight, such as Autobots leader Optimus Prime and his trusty sidekick and friend, Bumblebee.

Bumblebee is pretty much the Transformers movie mascot, and is set to get a lot more screen time exposure when the Bumblebee solo movie prequel arrives. That film will take the Transformers franchise back to its 1980s G1 legacy from the cartoons, which means we’ll see a very different version of ‘Bee (i.e., the “classic” version) than we have in the movie franchise so far.

In order to help prepare audiences for Bumblebee’s new chapter in the Transformers movie saga, Transformers: The Last makes a much-needed change to the character. Read below for the SPOILERY details.

“I am Bumblebee…”

One of the longest running motifs of Michael Bay’s Transformers movie franchise has been Bumblebee’s voice – or lack thereof. As the first Transformers film explains, ‘Bee’s voice box was damaged in battle, forcing him to communicate through clips and samples from the radio. In Transformers: The Last Knight, we finally get an ending to the saga of Bumblebee’s missing voice. 

Early on in the film, Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg) attempts to repair Bumblebee’s voice box, with help from young tech prodigy, Izabella (Isabela Moner). Unfortunately, that attempt falls flat, as Bumblebee’s voice ends up sounding like Siri – forcing ‘Bee to go back to his string of radio clips as a voice. 

In the climatic act of The Last Knight, Bumblebee is forced to battle Optimus Prime on top of an ancient Transformers ship, as Prime has been corrupted by Transformers creator Quintessa into becoming “Nemesis Prime,” her warrior servant. Prime is relentless in his assault against Bumblebee, and almost kills him. Cade (using ancient Transformers tech) is able hold off Nemesis Prime until Bumblebee has an opening; just when Prime is about to deliver the killing blow, Bumblebee stuns him by once again speaking in his real voice. 

Like Batman v Superman‘s infamous “Martha Moment,” Bumblebee’s voice (reminding Optimus that ‘Bee is his oldest friend and willing to die for him), snaps Prime out of his Nemesis persona, and reminds the Autobots’ great leader who he is, and what he stands for. Going forward (or backward, into Bumblebee’s solo movie prequel), it seems we’ll be getting the full-fledged Bumblebee character, at last. 

More Transformers News

SYNOPSIS: In Transformers: The Last Knight, humans are at war with the Transformers, and Optimus Prime is gone. The key to saving the future lies buried in the secrets of the past and the hidden history of Transformers on Earth. Now, it’s up to the unlikely alliance of Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg), Bumblebee, an English lord (Anthony Hopkins) and an Oxford professor (Laura Haddock) to save the world.

Transformers: The Last Knight is directed by Michael Bay. The film stars Mark Wahlberg and Stanley Tucci reprising their roles from Transformers: Age of Extinction, with Josh Duhamel, and John Turturro reprising roles from the first three Transformers movies.

Transformers: The Last Knight’s voice cast includes Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime, John Goodman as Hound, and John DiMaggio as Crosshairs. Other transformers appearing the film include Bumblebee, Drift, Hot Rod, Cogman, Canopy, Sqweeks, Grimlock, Megatron, Barricade, Onslaught, Hooligan, and Mohawk.

Transformers: The Last Knight is now in theaters.

MORE News:

• Transformers 5 Official Review
• How Unicron’s Reveal Sets up Transformers 6
• Does Nemesis Prime Appear in Transformers 5? 
• Transformers 5’s Unicron Explain
• The Big Twist In the Transformers Origin Story
• Transformers 5 Is the Worst Reviewed Movie in the Franchise
• Who Dies in Transformers 5?
• Transformers 5 Post-Credits Scene Explained