Transformers (RID film series)

Transformers is a series of American science fiction action war film based on the Hasbro toyline of the same name. The series began with Transformers: Robots in Disguise in 2007, continued in 2009 with Transformers 2: Rise of Unicron and in 2011 concluded with Transformers: War For Two Worlds. In late 2012 a fourth installment was announced. The first three films were directed by Zack Snyder with Sam Raimi taking over for the fourth film. Hans Zimmer scored Snyder's film while James Horner while do the score for Raimi's.

Transformers: Robots in Disguise
The first film in the series focuses on Daniel Witwicky (Michael Cera), a teenaged boy who buys his first car, using it to try and woo his crush, Carly Spencer (Emma Stone). However, the car turns out be transforming alien robot, Bumblebee (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and member of the Autobot faction, a group of benevolent Cybertronians led by Optimus Prime (Liam Neeson). Their mission to find the mystical One before their enemies, the Decepticons, do. Optimus' old nemesis, Megatron (Michael Clarke Duncan) turns out to be frozen and hidden in the Hoover Dam, but he escapes and a battle ensues in the nearby Mission City. The conflict culminates in Bumblebee plunging the One into Megatron's chest, destroying them both.

Zack Snyder directed the first film, with Hans Zimmer doing the score. Michael Cera stars as the nerdy protagonist Daniel Witwicky, and Emma Stone plays his love interest Carly Spencer. The Autobot leader, Optimus Prime, is voiced by Liam Neeson. Bumblebee is voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, with other Autobots such as Ironhide, Ratchet and Jazz being played by Tom Hardy, Roger Moore and Arsenio Hall respectively. The film's main antagonist Megatron is voiced by Michael Clarke Duncan. His second in command, Starscream is voiced by Robert Baker. Aaron Eckhart plays the US President James Keller while Bryan Cranston plays a government agent named Seymour Simmons.

Transformers 2: Rise of Unicron
In the second film, Daniel heads off for college while the Autobots work in conjunction with human soldiers under the name MECH. Meanwhile, the Decepticons use a stolen shard from the One to ressurect Megatron. However, a new enemy appears in the form of Unicron, who seeks to steal the Autobot Matrix in order to activate a machine, buried in Egypt, which can absorb Earth's sun. During the course of the film, Megatron kills Optimus but he is later ressurected. The film builds to a climax set in Egypt, with Optimus flying to the peak of a pyramid and kills Unicron while badly wounding Megatron. Megatron and Starscream escape, however, with plans to take revenge against Earth.

Zack Snyder and Hans Zimmer return, as does Michael Cera, Emma Stone, Bryan Cranston, Liam Neeson and Michael Clarke Duncan amongst others. Arsenio Hall is the only one who does not reprise his role as Jazz from the first film, as Jazz was killed during the film's climax. Unicron is portrayed by James Earl Jones in the film.

Transformers: War For Two Worlds
The third film sees the Autobots recovering a crashed ship, the Ark, from the moon and reviving the comatose Autobot Ultra-Magnus (Patrick Stewart). It isn't long before Magnus turns out to be a traitor, having secretly made a deal with the Decepticons. The Decepticons invade Earth and exile the Autobots, who are forced to fake their deaths in a shuttle explosion. They return to Scramble City and a massive city-wide battle ensues. Daniel must rescue Carly from his new boss, Prometheus Black (David Bowie), who is a Decepticon conspirator. The battle culminates in the eventual deaths of Ratchet, Black, Starscream, Megatron and Ultra-Magnus.

Zack Snyder returned to direct for the final time, as did Hans Zimmer. Michael Cera and Emma Stone both reprise their roles, along with Liam Neeson, Michael Clarke Duncan and Bryan Cranston. Aaron Eackhart makes a cameo appearance. Ultra-Magnus, the main villain, is voiced by Patrick Stewart. Two new Decepticons appear, Shockwave and Laserbeak, are voiced by David Warner and Jerem Irons respectively. David Bowie plays the main human antagonist, Prometheus Black.

Transformers 4
Despite the intention for the third film to be the last, a fourth film was announced. For the first time, Zack Snyder will not direct, but Sam Raimi. Hans Zimmer will also not return to score the film, and James Horner will take over. Not Michael Cera or Emma Stone will return, and so far neither will Bryan Cranston. It has been confirmed that Leonard Nimoy will play Optimus, replacing Liam Neeson. It is unlikely that characters such as Megatron and Starscream will return, due to their deaths in the previous film coupled with the passing of Michael Clarke Duncan. More recently, Dwayne Johnson was cast in the film in an unknown part, but has confirmed as being the protagonist. Andrew Garfield will appear in the film, but it is not known if he will play a human or Transformer. Jennifer Lawrence has been confirmed in a human role. Kevin Bacon has been cast as the main villain. The film was initially intended to be a reboot, but it has been recently suggested that this may not be the case. Their are no details known about the plot other than fan speculation at this time.