'Bumblebee' Is Next Installment in 'Transformers' Franchise

'Bumblebee' Is Next Installment in 'Transformers' Franchise The ‘Transformers’ franchise is getting a makeover with ‘Bumblebee’ — a prequel to the 2007 feature-film that brought the bots to the big screen. ‘Bumblebee’ is directed by Travis Knight, who served as lead animator on 2009’s ‘Coraline’ and 2012’s ‘ParaNorman.’ Michael Bay helmed the first film and its four sequels, the latest being 2017’s Transformers: The Last Knight. The film takes place in 1987, 20 years before the landmark film, and follows Bumblebee’s adventures with an 18-year-old girl. Hailee Steinfeld, who starred in both ‘Pitch Perfect’ sequels, will portray the lead role of Charlie. ‘Bumblebee’ will exist in the same universe as other Hasbro entities, according to ‘The Hollywood Reporter.’ ‘Transformers 7’ has also been removed from Paramount Pictures’ release schedule. ‘Bumblebee’ will buzz into theaters on Dec 21, 2017.