There’s more than meets the eye to the action-packed robot-smashing adventure in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Audiences and Transformers super fans might have missed a few of the best Rise of the Beasts easter eggs due to the immersion of watching giant robots battle each other for the fate of the galaxy against the might of Unicron.
Some of the easter eggs in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts may surprise fans, as many references call back to the original G1 Transformers cartoon. Yet, there are more than just neat callbacks, as the Transformers movie features a decent amount of teases for what could await the future of the Transformers cinematic universe.
7 Primus, The Creator
As Scourge lays a violent beatdown on Optimus Prime, he utters some words of hatred to put the Autobot leader down. Scourge says something along the lines of “Primus would be disappointed”, and to hardcore Transformers fans, this may raise a few eyebrows, as Primus has not been mentioned before, and is a very important character in Transformers.
Primus is essentially the god of the Transformers, an ethereal being that created them all. What’s most interesting is not only how Primus transformed into Cybertron, but the fact that Primus is the sibling of Unicron, Scourge’s dark master.
6 Scourge’s Trophies
The sadistic Terrorcon leader, Scourge, collects the Transformers that he kills in battle. Scourge can be seen picking off the emblem of a Transformer, and burning it into his shoulders and arms, to display his kill proudly as a trophy on his body.
Many of Scourge’s trophies that he has branded himself with are not just Maximals and Autobots, but there are a few Decepticons and a few other unknown symbols. Scourge has been exploring the galaxy for the Transwarp Key, and laying waste to Transformers during his search.
5 Michael Bay’s Transformers Theme
Although Rise of the Beasts is somewhat distant from the controversial Michael Bay Transformers movies, the film does pay a beautiful homage through the use of Steve Jablonsky’s theme from the 2007 movie. Audiences might catch the iconic theme as Optimus Prime transforms into a truck to escape the defeated forces of Unicron.
Although the timeline surrounding Rise of the Beasts and the “Bayverse” of Transformers is unclear, it’s obvious that the team behind Rise of the Beasts has not forgotten the first live-action outings of Optimus Prime and the Autobots with this iconic piece of music.
4 Marky Mark
Mirage seems to love all things the ‘90s and has a strong love for pop culture on Earth. Yet, there is one comment in particular that stands out, and that’s when Mirage jokes about how “Marky Mark” is going to pursue acting full-time.
The irony of this scene comes from the fact that Marky Mark is Mark Wahlberg, a famous actor who played the character of Cade Yeager, a father, and inventor that helped Optimus Prime and the Autobots in two Michael Bay Transformers movie adventures.
3 Bumblebee’s Friend, Charlie Watson
Optimus Prime makes it clear that Earth is just a pitstop, and the Autobots have no reason to stay on this planet. For over seven years, they have been in hiding, in fear of being discovered by humans. Optimus Prime tells the Autobots that they cannot trust humans, yet Bumblebee interjects.
Optimus Prime acknowledges that Bumblebee made a friend on Earth when Bee first arrived. This friend was Charlie Watson, a girl that helped Bumblebee against the military and Decepticons in Bumblebee. It’s a shame audience doesn’t see her again in Rise of the Beasts, but it’s great to see Bee still remember this friendship.
2 “’Til All Are One”
Throughout the entire Transformers franchise and mythology, “’Til All Are One” has been uttered many times, through many different characters. It’s a rallying cry of the Autobots, and a dream for the uniting of all Transformers, Autobots, Decepticons, and others, to form under one faction and rejoin as a people.
The phrase was first heard in the Generation 1 cartoon, where Optimus Prime utters it on his deathbed. This phrase would become part of the Transformers legacy, and it returns for Rise of the Beasts, a phrase uttered by Optimus Prime, and shared with Optimus Primal and Noah.
1 G.I. Joe Crossover
With the Rise of the Beasts ending, Noah gets a job interview at what he believes to be a simple security guard. However, it is revealed that he is actually in an interview for a part of something bigger, a secret “off the books” government organization that serves to protect mankind, a special unit called G.I. Joe.
This reveal is shocking, but not surprising, considering Transformers and G.I. Joe have had crossovers in the past thanks to comic books. G.I. Joe is sure to be a big part of the Transformers franchise going forward, and it could be fun to see Optimus Prime fight Cobra Commander.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is in theatres now.