Unleashing a New Era: Time Travel Takes Center Stage in the Transformers Movies

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts introduces a new element to the franchise - time travel. Set seven years after the Autobots' arrival on Earth in Bumblebee, the movie begins with Unicron and his minions attacking the Maximals' planet in search of the Transwarp key. Despite overpowering the Maximals, they are unable to retrieve the key as Optimus Primal and the surviving Maximals escape to Earth in 1994.

As the story progresses, Scourge and Unicron's henchmen arrive on Earth in pursuit of the Transwarp key, while the Autobots embark on their own mission to find it in hopes of returning home. Through these intertwined narratives, it becomes clear that the Transwarp key holds great significance and has opened up new possibilities, including the potential for time travel in the Transformers live-action universe.

The Maximals Are From The Future In Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

In the prologue of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Unicron attempts to invade the Maximals' home planet and steal the Transwarp key. This key possesses the ability to not only open portals between vast intergalactic distances, but also to other dimensions, universes, and timelines. Essentially, the Transwarp key grants its users the power to manipulate space and time according to their desires. Recognizing the potential devastation that could be caused if Unicron obtains the Transwarp key, the Maximals decide to travel to Earth's 1994 timeline using the key. Although they never explicitly disclose their origin, various subtle details throughout the film strongly suggest that they originate from the future.

For instance, in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, it is the Maximals who first acknowledge the immense influence that the Transwarp key holds over both time and space. Additionally, there is a scene where Optimus Primal mentions that he was named after Optimus Prime. Considering Optimus Prime's current position as a nascent leader during the events of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, it appears highly improbable that another Transformer from the 1994 timeline would bear his name.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts introduces time travel elements that add a new layer of logic to Unicron's motives. It is likely that Unicron's powers enable him to manipulate space and time to a certain extent, allowing him to send three of his minions back in time to search for the Transwarp key while remaining trapped in the future. Towards the conclusion of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Scourge obtains the Transwarp key, enabling him to create a portal through which Unicron can traverse space and time, ultimately manifesting above Earth in the year 1994.

How The Maximals Connect To The Autobots’ Future

The Maximals are a prominent group in the original Transformers Beast Wars comics and animated series, set in a future timeline separate from the Autobots. According to Transformers lore, the Maximals are descendants of the Autobots, carrying on their legacy and principles. Their involvement and the potential for time travel open up numerous story possibilities in the sequel, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. In many Beast Wars narratives, the Maximals journey back in time to potentially shape the events and actions that eventually lead to the Autobots' arrival on Earth. This is why Optimus Primal states that the Maximals represent both the past and future of the Autobots in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.