Bumblebee's Post-Credits Scene Hints at the Transformers Franchise Future

CBR

By Renaldo Matadeen

Published Dec 21, 2018

Bumblebee's mid-credits sequence may point to a new direction for the Transformers franchise following the failure of The Last Knight.

Left to right: Hailee Steinfeld as Charlie and Bumblebee in BUMBLEBEE, from Paramount Pictures.

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Paramount Pictures' Bumblebee, in theaters now.

The Transformers films have a tradition of post-credits scenes that actually predate the birth of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, stretching back to director Michael Bay's 2007 original. Three of the sequels also contained such sequences, and now Bumblebee continues that tradition with a stinger that may be a preview of what to expect from the future of the live-action series.

Although 2017's The Last Knight was intended to set the stage for an ambitious expansion of Transformers, with prequels, sequels and spinoffs, its disappointing box office performance led Paramount Pictures and Habro to pull the brake, leaving Bumblebee as what very well could be a soft reboot for the franchise.

Director Travis Knight's mid-credits scene brings closure, of sorts, to the character arc of human protagonist Charlie (Hailee Stanfield) while laying the groundwork for what could be either a direct sequel, or the next phase of the main franchise.

EARTH HAS BECOME AN AUTOBOT HAVEN

We immediately see Bumblebee (voiced by Dylan O'Brien) and Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) walking through a mysterious forest, after leaving the film's San Francisco backdrop. Optimus thanks his "old friend" for protecting Earth from the pursuing Decepticons Shatter and Dropkick.

He also thanks Bumblebee for helping to preserve the future of the Autbots by disrupting the message the duo attempted to transmit back to Megatron and his invasion force. However, their conversation is cut short by sonic booms in the sky. The camera pans up to reveal seven balls of fire crashing to Earth, just as Bumblebee did earlier, hinting the Autobot cavalry has arrived at their new home. It sets up an immediate sequel, as they don't know whether Decepticons tracked the seven, if these flashes are actually Decepticons, or if the U.S. government's Sector 7 has spotted them.

CHARLIE IS BACK IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT

Knight then fades to Charlie driving what looks to be a shiny, new Corvette through town, but it's actually the car of her later father, with which she earlier became frustrated while trying to restore. She had used it in an attempt to cope with her grief, but her lack of success results only in angst and isolation, and a growing resentment directed at her remaining family.

It's a simple and subtle sequences, as it's merely Charlie down windy roads, with the wind blowing through her hair. But it indicates she's had time, following Bumblebee's departure, to restore the Corvette, and her broad smile suggests she feels herself again. Charlie is once more confident and happy, two things she thought she would never be.

Directed by Travis Knight from a script by Christina Hodson, Bumblebee stars Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Pamela Adlon, Jason Drucker, Abby Quinn, Rachel Crow, Ricardo Hoyos and Gracie Dzienny.