Transformers: Rise of the Beasts includes a hint that the other Maximal characters from the original Beast Wars TV series have been killed off-screen. Rise of the Beasts is the seventh live-action Transformers movie loosely based on the aforementioned TV show. From introducing the Maximals to including MacGuffins like a Transwarp Key, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts includes many Beast Wars elements.
This extends to the Optimus Primal, Airazor, Cheetor, and Rhinox, the four main Maximal Transformers included in the film. Despite the similar aspects, Rise of the Beasts changed Beast Wars’ story somewhat, with one line of dialogue hinting that the future appearance of other Maximals from the original show is impossible. This line comes from Airazor, who insists that only four Maximals remain in the galaxy after the death of Apelinq at the beginning of the film. Taking this line as gospel, here is every Maximal character from the original Beast Wars show that has been seemingly killed off-screen.
5 Rattrap
One of the primary characters from Beast Wars that does not appear by the ending of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is Rattrap. In Beast Wars, Rattrap was a Maximal hacker, saboteur, and demolitions expert. In the series, Rattrap fittingly took the form of a rat, yet failed to appear in Rise of the Beasts. While these missing Maximals could be retconned to appear in future films, Airazor’s line of there being no others left seemingly hints that Rattrap is already dead.
The original Beast Wars saw Rattrap as a cowardly figure at first, before later going on to find his courage and risk his life for his comrades. One element of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts that was somewhat disappointing was the film’s lack of focus on the Maximals’ specializations. Other than Optimus Primal, the Maximals did not receive much focus regarding their place on the team. As a result, the Maximals lacked a hacker like Rattrap who played an important role in Beast Wars by helping the Maximals fight against the Predacons.
4 Dinobot
Dinobot was a Maximal character from Beast Wars who took the form of a Velociraptor. Dinobot was shown to strike a rivalry-turned-friendship with Rattrap in the original show, meaning it can be seen as a blessing that neither appeared in Rise of the Beasts. If the film had featured one MAximal without the other, their interesting character dynamic from Beast Wars would have been lost. At first, Dinobot was a Predacon warrior, before defecting to the Maximals. Beast Wars showcased this, with Dinobot sacrificing his life to stop the Predacons, one of Beast Wars’ most emotional story beats.
However, much like Rattrap, Dinobot did not appear in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Airazor’s dialogue in the film also makes it the case that Dinobot has likely already died, though the film’s lack of the Predacons could pave the way for Dinobot to have a similar arc in the sequel to Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Until Dinobot’s future role is confirmed, however, it is safe to assume he perished along with the other Maximals, leaving only Primal, Airazor, Rhinox, and Cheetor alive.
3 Tigatron
Another Maximal character from Beast Wars that is almost impossible to include in the future of live-action Transformers is Tigatron. While the mention of other Maximals being dead by Airazor is enough to confirm this, the connection between Tigatron and Airazor in Beast Wars can never be explored due to Tigatron’s supposed death and Airazor’s fate in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. In Beast Wars, Tigatron is a Maximal who takes the form of a white tiger, remaining mostly neutral living in the wilderness. Despite his neutrality, Tigatron regularly helps the Maximals in their battle against Megatron and the Predacons.
In Beast Wars season 2, Tigatron and Airazor begin a romantic relationship. Eventually, the two are transported to an alien homeworld where they merge, becoming the Maximal known as Tigerhawk. As Tigatron was all but confirmed dead in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts – and Airazor was killed by Optimus Primal after being infected by Scourge – the inclusion of Tigerhawk in the future is highly unlikely. As a result, Tigatron himself will likely not appear in live-action Transformers and was seemingly killed off-screen before the film’s events.
2 Silverbolt
While Rise of the Beasts’ post-credits scene could have teased more Maximals, this was not the case, meaning Silverbolt is also likely dead along with the other missing Transformers from Beast Wars. Silverbolt is introduced later in Beast Wars story, as a chivalrous knight-like character who takes the form of a wolf-eagle hybrid. Much like Tigatron, Rattrap, and Dinobot, Silverbolt’s existence is not hinted at in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, outside of Airazor implying he is dead along with the other Maximals.
1 Depth Charge
An interesting Maximal from the original Beast Wars show was Depth Charge. Depth Charge was once a vigilante on Cybertron before becoming a vigilante, committed to hunting down Transformer serial killers. One of these killers was a criminal named Protoform X, who eventually became a Predacon known as Rampage and fought for Megatron. As a result, Depth Charge tracked Rampage to prehistoric Earth, coming into contact with the Maximals. Depth Charge takes the form of a manta ray, making him a water-based Maximal.
Despite being a force for good, Depth Charge often came into conflict with the Maximals. Despite this, the commitment of Rampage to the Predacon cause meant that Depth Charge often showed up to aid the Maximals in battle. The ending of Beast Wars saw Depth Charge face off against Rampage in a fateful battle aboard Megatron’s ship, Nemesis. In the end, Depth Charge impaled Rampage’s spark with raw energon, resulting in an explosion that saw both Transformers meet their end.
Depth Charge, due to his more neutral nature, would have been an interesting inclusion in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. However, as with the other Maximals on this list, he is not mentioned nor seen in the film. It is safe to assume that Depth Charge is also dead alongside the other missing Transformers due to Airazor’s comments, though this is something that could just as easily be retconned in future films. If Paramount opts to make a spin-off of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, the film could more closely follow Beast Wars’ story and bring the presumed dead Maximals into the live-action Transformers universe.
