While the latest film in the Transformers franchise, The Last Knight, didn’t do nearly as well as previous outings, box office-wise, the next film has the great benefit of spinning off into something a bit smaller and more character-driven.

Starring in the Bumblebee-focused spinoff is none other than Oscar-nominated actress Hailee Steinfeld. While promoting her new film, Pitch Perfect 3, she discussed what attracted her to the Transformers film in the first place.

“I liked the opportunity of creating something new and different but obviously it is under the same roof of these films that I am a fan of. I didn’t have any reservations, maybe a few nerves just because of the fact the fan base is so incredibly loyal and hardcore. I wanted to make a film that they’ll love. This movie is, of course, part of the Transformers legacy but it is a standalone film and it is its own story and it goes back in time to the ’80s before any of the Transformers [movies] came about.”

Of course, the hope here for Paramount is that Bumblebee opens up the way for a brand new franchise within the franchise, á la Marvel. Could this first stab at a spinoff open the gates to more films?

“I think that we’ll see how the first one does, how people receive it and how it turns out and then hopefully start the conversation and what happens after that.”

Are you looking forward to seeing what this new Bumblebee spinoff has to offer? I’ve admittedly been burned out on all things Transformers, but the big saving grace here is that Kubo and the Two Strings director is at the helm. Given that we’ve only seen Michael Bay’s vision for these films up until now, we can only hope that it gives audiences a newfound respect for what these films could ultimately be.

Or so I hope.

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SOURCE: IGN