Bumblebee Stars Offer First Look at Transformers Spin-Off

While fans wait to hear the details of the upcoming reboot to the live-action franchise, they can still look forward to the upcoming prequel spin-off Bumblebee, which debuted its first look clip at CinemaCon on Wednesday, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The film, which is set to release Dec. 21, will take place 20 years before the events of the first film as the titular Autobot takes refuge in a small California beach town and crosses path with teenage girl Charlie, who learns of his true nature.

Stars Hailee Steinfeld (The Edge of Seventeen), John Cena (Blockers), Jorge Lendeborg, Jr. (Love, Simon) and director Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings) were on stage to present the clip for the Paramount section of the convention for the sixth entry in the film series. In the clip, Charlie (Steinfeld) is working on her VW as it transforms into the Autobot and they are both scared of each other. It shows how they slowly connect with each other and that she was the one who named him Bumblebee, given his inability to talk.

Steinfeld described working on the movie as an “incredible experience” and cited the relationship between her character and Bumblebee as having “heart.” Director Knight cited the film “as a dream come true” and that his childhood experience with the toys really helped him craft the characters and emotion behind the film.