Why Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts' Setting Will Blow You Away

After five movies, the "Transformers" franchise got a shot in the arm thanks to the heartfelt and ambitious "Bumblebee." The 1980s set spin-off of the mainline series was hailed as a major return to form. It performed well at the box office and won praise from critics, so it should come as no surprise that a sequel, titled "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts," is on the way. While it may not arrive in theaters until July 24, 2022, thanks to a recent press event attended by Looper, we do have some details to share about the upcoming film.

Something we learned quite a bit about are the settings for "Rise of the Beasts." Like its predecessor, the film will take place at the end of the 20th century. However, this time it will jump forward in time a bit to 1994, as well as hopping coasts from California to New York City. It was confirmed that while the entire city will be featured in the film, the borough of Brooklyn will be the focus of the action. That should make for a dynamic backdrop, as the Transformers themselves will potentially have a big impact on the narrow streets and tall buildings of the densely populated urban environment.

But that's not all. The creative team also teased another big South American location for the movie that will see it exploring the history of an ancient empire.

Although their automobile-centric appearances give the Transformers a distinctly modern feel, fans of the movies know that these aliens are actually quite ancient. Many of the films in the franchise have elaborated on how the Transformers have been appearing to humanity for thousands of years. And it looks like "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" may continue that tradition.

During the press conference, it was revealed that part of "Rise of the Beasts" was filmed in Peru. More specifically, they shot scenes at Machu Picchu, the probable mountain estate of the Incan Emperor Pachacuti (via Encyclopedia Britannica). While Machu Picchu is a frequent setting for Instagram posts and travel documentaries, it's not a location that is often used in feature films, which will no doubt give "Rise of the Beasts" a unique claim to fame. Incan history will be playing a role in the story, which should make for a fascinating new layer to the lore of the "Transformers" universe.

There is one last thing to clarify. Before you start to get worried, take a deep breath and relax as we got assurances from the "Rise of the Beasts" creative team that Machu Picchu was not destroyed either in our own universe or in the world of "Transformers."