Warning! This article contains spoilers for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts includes mention of a being named Primus, the creator of the Transformers themselves. Since the Transformers franchise began in the 1980s, many different characters have been spawned from the stories told. This includes the most popular characters used in the live-action series, continuing with Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
As Rise of the Beasts is the seventh installment in the live-action series, it features the inclusion of many new characters from Transformers’ history to tell a unique story. From the Maximals – the Autobots able to transform into beasts – to the Terrorcons, Rise of the Beasts includes more factions than simply the Autobots and Decepticons of the series’ past. Similarly, Rise of the Beasts features the first live-action mention of a being named Primus from the Transformers series, something that could seed the stories of Transformers 8 and 9 movies.
Primus Is A God Who Created The Transformers
In the Transformers universe, Primus is a god who dates back to the beginning of the universe itself. An ethereal being, Primus is a multiversal force for good with many incarnations across many realities and dimensions. In every one of these universes, Primus stands as the last line of defense against any evil threatening the galaxy. Other than this, Primus is also known as the creator of the Transformers themselves. However, exactly how Primus created the Transformers is interesting, and links to the planet from which the autonomous species hail: Cybertron.
Primus Became The Planet Cybertron
After acting as a force for good in the universe for a time, Primus used his godlike powers to eventually transform himself into the planet Cybertron. After this, the Transformers began sprouting from the planet’s surface, essentially extensions of Primus himself. Since then, the Transformers – usually the benevolent tribe the Autobots – have scoured the galaxy fighting for the good of all planets just as Primus did before them. The spark that powers all Transformers is a piece of Primus’ life force, together forming the Allspark.
Primus Is Unicron’s Twin Brother
Just as Primus was an ethereal being fighting for good in the galaxy before becoming Cybertron, an evil being named Unicron sought to dominate the universe. Unicron – also named the Chaos-Bringer – is the eternal enemy of Primus and his twin brother. Unlike his brother, Unicron seeks to destroy the universe, devouring planets and the fabric of existence until he is the sole survivor of a universe in chaos. As such, Primus has vowed to stop Unicron, with the children of the former often fighting against Unicron and his minions.
As shown in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts – and likely a sequel – Unicron often strikes deals with lesser beings to carry out his plans. This results in conflicts between Primus’ creations, the Transformers, and more evil versions of the robotic race. While Unicron has directly appeared in live-action films like Transformers: The Last Knight and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Primus has not been physically included outside the appearances of Cybertron.
Is Optimus Prime Related To Primus?
Due to the similarities in their names, the question could be raised whether Optimus Prime is related to Primus. As Primus’ is a god to the Transformers, and responsible for their creation, every being born on Cybertron is essentially a child of Primus. This includes Optimus Prime, though the two have a stronger connection than the other Autobots do with their creator. This comes from Optimus’ leadership of the Autobots, which is linked to an aspect of Primus’ life force.
One of the more powerful objects in the Transformers universe is the Matrix of Leadership, held by the leader of the Autobots. Throughout many incarnations of the Transformers franchise, Optimus Prime has possessed this Matrix. This solidifies Prime as the leader of the Autobots but also means he houses the life force of Primus. While all Transformers are children of Primus, Optimus Prime essentially acts as an extension of the god’s will, fighting against the Decepticons, Terrorcons, and any other evil being carrying out the will of Primus’ twin nemesis Unicron.
Primus In Rise Of The Beasts & Transformers Movies
Due to this connection between Optimus Prime and Primus, the god has been referenced multiple times throughout the Transformers live-action franchise, including Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. However, it is worth pointing out that Rise of the Beasts is the first live-action Transformers project to mention Primus by name. That being said, the franchise has still referenced the god at length due to what is known about Primus in wider Transformers lore.
Firstly, the planet of Cybertron has been essential in almost all Transformers films. In 2007’s Transformers, the first film in the live-action series, the Autobots intended to use the Allspark to rebuild Cybertron. As the Allspark is Primus’ life force, they intended to essentially revive Primus after Cybertron was destroyed by civil war. Cybertron also appears in the third Transformers film, Dark of the Moon. The opening sequence of the third film is set on Cybertron, meaning Primus technically appears in his planetary form. The same can be said for Bumblebee, which opens on Cybertron also, therefore including Primus.
The second live-action film, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, features multiple references to Primus. The Matrix of Leadership is a crucial MacGuffin to the plot of the movie, with another Prime named The Fallen attempting to use it to destroy Earth. The Fallen himself is one of Primus’ oldest creations, referencing the god. Similarly, the Primes of the past appear to Optimus who is revived using the Matrix, meaning Primus’ life force became part of him.
When concerning Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, the most recent live-action film features the first proper mention of Primus. During a conversation with Optimus Primal, the leader of the Maximals mentions that Optimus Prime is a chosen one of Primus. This references Prime’s leadership of the Autobots, carrying out Primus’ mission against Unicron. Similarly, Unicron is the main villain of the film, with his intention being to annihilate Earth before doing so to the rest of the universe. This would threaten Cybertron too, meaning Transformers: Rise of the Beasts features the direct conflict between Primus and Unicron which will likely continue in sequels to the film.