What Could Have Been the Fast
Bumblebee was originally going to be the first film in the Transformers franchise, not the fifth, with a script that focused on the 1987 animated series.
A script for Bumblebee, written by Christina Hodson, was circulating around Paramount Pictures, with the intention of being the first live-action installment of the franchise, based on the 1987 animated television series. However, Hasbro and Paramount decided to develop a more mature, complex, and connected storyline, which would later form the foundation for the live-action films.
According to a 2018 interview with Christina Hodson, the script for Bumblebee was designed to be a more character-driven story, focusing on the relationship between Bumblebee and Charlie Watson, a teenage girl who befriends the Autobot. The script also explored the backstory of Bumblebee and his role in the Transformers' war against the Decepticons.
“The idea was to take the smaller, more intimate story and make it the first film, and then build the bigger, more epic story around it,” Hodson explained.
Although the script was never produced, it laid the groundwork for the eventual development of the live-action films, including the character of Bumblebee and his relationship with Charlie Watson.
It's interesting to consider what could have been if Bumblebee had been the first film in the franchise. Would it have been a more intimate, character-driven story, or would it have still been an action-packed, epic film?
Regardless, the script for Bumblebee provides an interesting glimpse into the development of the Transformers franchise and the creative decisions that shaped the live-action films.
Author's summary: The original script for Bumblebee, written by Christina Hodson, offered a unique take on the Transformers franchise, focusing on the relationship between Bumblebee and a teenage girl. Although it was never produced, the script laid the groundwork for the live-action films and provides an interesting insight into the franchise's development.