Transformers fans are definitely looking forward to the new movie, Rise of the Beasts, but as a franchise Transformers isn’t exactly the kind of thing that gets people worked up. Movies tend to be seen by a lot of people and make a lot of money, professional critics tend to think they’re dumb, and then we all get on with our lives. But on the eve of the release of the new film Transformers: Rise of the Beasts has actually created a bit of a controversy, around the World Trade Center and 9/11.
Writer Daniel Kibblesmith posted a trailer for the screenplay on Twitter Rise of the Beasts which, he said, successfully did its job of getting him to stop scrolling. In this case, he showed a shot of New York City before 2001, with the World Trade Center still standing, but with huge clouds of dark smoke in the background.
This picture definitely made me stop scrolling. pic.twitter.com/GV5IHy6luAMay 22, 2023
Among all we know Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is the fact that the film is set in the mid-1990s, putting it between the latter film, Bee, and the rest of the main franchise. While the sequel makes almost no sense, what it does mean is that the World Trade Center should be there. But the fact that New York will be the location for a major Transformers battle isn’t lost on people watching the shot, even if many call it a joke.
“Sir, a second cheat just hit the tower” https://t.co/aCbuucUQGZ pic.twitter.com/Ml7tECDCyxMay 24, 2023
While the shot certainly “makes sense” in the context of the film, it was clearly a deliberate decision to shoot the film in New York and include such a shot. It’s very deliberately provocative. While the imagery and symbolism of 9/11 is certainly no stranger to Hollywood since 2001, this goes a little beyond symbolism and is clearly an intentional reference.
Literally that episode of Family Guy where to emphasize that they were living in the 90s, they put the twin towers in every background shot. https://t.co/cij9m3MsQW pic.twitter.com/oxkYoAaTvvMay 23, 2023
No one in the responses or the thread that tweeted the original seems to be particularly upset or offended by the image. There is some surprise that the filmmakers would “go there,” but that’s about it. For a long time, unless a movie was specifically about the tragedy of 9/11, movies tended to downplay any direct reference to it.
Both the decision to include this shot and the response to it, if anything, show that America has moved far enough beyond the events of 9/11 that it may not be such a sensitive issue. A trailer for Sam Raimi’s first Spider-Man film was pulled from theaters in 2001 after the attacks. A lot has certainly changed since then.
Post credit scene: Decipticons actually did 9/11 https://t.co/zmSHtWhbYlMay 24, 2023
Even says Kibblesmith in a follow-up tweet that he has no real problem with the wizard, he was just surprised to see it. If nothing else, the viral nature of the original image will, if nothing else, make people aware that it exists. While it may not bother many people, there may be some who would have a problem with it, and at least they know it.
I get it but it’s the 90s https://t.co/z92Mb2VdXhMay 24, 2023
It will certainly be interesting to see how Transformers: Rise of the Beasts it handles this massive destruction battle in New York in context, rather than just looking at a few random shots. We’ll find out when the film hits theaters in June.
“Falls down a lot. Unapologetic alcohol guru. Travel specialist. Amateur beer trailblazer. Award-winning tv advocate. Hipster-friendly twitter aficionado”