Exit Bumblebee, enter Hot Rod?

[MitP]

This isn't meant to be any kind of suggestion or request for TF4. It's pure, 100% fanboy speculation.

Supposing for a moment that Shia Labeouf/Sam Witwicky isn't coming back for Part 4. Should Bumblebee leave with him? This could actually make sense, seeing as how Bumblebee has been filling the role of Sam's guardian since the first movie, and he could simply be holding down his job by accompanying Sam to Britain with Carly (or wherever the screenwriters decide to send him). Would this allow room for a new, youthful Autobot protagonist in Bumblebee's stead, i.e. Hot Rod?

(Another alternative to Hot Rod could be Cheetor, if they're worried about recycling the plot of the animated movie.)

[Trailbreaker]

Didn't Bumblebee "graduate" from his guardian role though?

[MV95]

Didn't Bumblebee "graduate" from his guardian role though?

Yep, plus they said Bee and Optimus would be in TF4.

[Matthew62]

Why not just bring him in anyways? And keep the same cast. If u want a mostly tf movie just have a whole bunch of autobots come to earth on metroplex

[Bot of Badassness]

There's so many other robots that could be used instead. Hot Rod didn't have any special power or job, the only good thing about his character was that he was Optimus' successor. He was just another car. We need to see Autobots that transform into a variety of vehicles.

Considering the Autobots lost their big heavy duty friend in DOTM, we could have someone similar such as Hound be brought in, a robot that takes on military disguise (makes sense with him working at NEST).

[swishbig]

Why not cliffjumper?

[Bot of Badassness]

Now he could be cool. He could be a large, short robot that he is, but when the action goes down, the fatness folds back, as if it is a shell, and reveal a tall and lean robot.

Other than that, a cool robot form, I don't think there is anything else he could bring to the Autobots (just another car).

[almostthethird15]

If Hot Rod did show up, i would like to see some rivalry between him and Bumblebee since they are somewhat similar and younger. But in the end, they would settle their differences and kick some major butt

[horizon]

The question is : Bumblebee and Prime have become the main $$$ for Hasbro and Paramount. I mean, all can change in the movies but not those 2 autobots.

[shadowinvid]

Shake it up kill bee in TF4,near the end with the Rust Spore virus, bring him back TF5 as gold bug or better still a new name "Hornet" and have him kick butt. A young hot head/ hot rod would be sweet.

[Bravepatriot]

The question is : Bumblebee and Prime have become the main $$$ for Hasbro and Paramount. I mean, all can change in the movies but not those 2 autobots.

Not only this, but the movie would suck without Optimus and bee. I think prowl should arrive on the scene, but should he be a cool Dodge charger police car or something else?

2011-dodge-charger.jpg

[eagc7]

Last February, the producer Lorenzo di benvtura (or however his last name is spelled). said Bumblebee is returning

[kup]

[QUOTE=Bravepatriot;202289]Not only this, but the movie would suck without Optimus and bee. I think prowl should arrive on the scene, but should he be a cool Dodge charger police car or something else?

/QUOTE]

Someone has to fill me in on why we can't have a good movie without OP. Did anyone see the 1983 movie? OP was in it for about 5 minutes. And they were a glorious 5 minutes that should be put on a DVD and forced upon every school child in the world but nonetheless, OP wasn't really in it. We were introduced (as the masses) to wholly iconic characters that, while not the leader of the Autobots, clearly have stood the test of time to anyone who has seen the flick: Kup, Springer, Arcee, Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime, the Junkions, Ultra Magnus, the Dinobots, Wheelie, Galvatron, Unicron, Blurr, Perceptor, Blaster. In the first 5 minutes of that movie we lost OP, Prowl, Ratchet, Ironhide, Megatron, Starscream, and Brawn (I think) and it was still an unforgettable movie. Bay is going to do whatever he wants, but he shouldn't feel constrained by OP and Bee selling well because if they retold the 80's movie in Bay's style Hot Rod and Kup/Springer/Galvatron/Wreck-Gar, Arcee, whoever, would sell just as well so long as the story is as rich and transformer-centric as the 80's movie was.

Edit: When I read this back I feel like it sounded like I wanted Bay to remake the 80's movie. That's not what I'm saying, I'm just saying that a strong, transformer centric story, with good characters, like the 80's movie, is going to sell well even without OP and Bee and that's all. Don't want to stir the pot!