Transformers One managed to maintain a strong connection with the character Megatron, despite changing elements of the franchise’s lore that surrounds it. Changes to Transformers story were not uncommon in the 2024 film, from Transformers Onefrom Optimus Prime’s new origin story to Iacon City’s more developed infrastructure. Not only these, but other elements of the classic franchise have been slightly altered to create a new set of stories based on its characters, as evident by the time Transformers Oneis ending.
Although Transformers OneThe post-credits scene teased the Autobot-Decepticon war that Transformers fans have discovered that there are still ways for the future to be different than what came before. That being said, Transformers One it had plenty of Easter eggs and references to prove that it wasn’t completely devoid of connections to the franchise at large. This allowed the film to be enjoyable for those familiar with Transformers, as well as a starting point for new audiences. One of the ways Transformers One followed this line through Megatron, maintaining a common franchise connection for his character with some big changes.
Megatron obtains Megatronus Prime’s T-Cog at the end of Transformers One
Megatronus has long inspired Megatron
The character connection in question is Megatronus Prime’s inspiration for D-16, who later becomes Megatron. The film makes it clear from the first scenes how much D-16 aspires to be like Megatronus, one of the Transformers OneThe iconic Primes. In the film’s final act, this inspiration becomes much more active in D-16’s transformation into Megatron when the young Cybertronian retrieves Megatronus Prime’s transformation gear. Without these gears, not all Cybertronians can transform into Transformers Onebut D-16 finds a solution.
While he receives a T-gear at the beginning of the film from Alpha Trion, D-16 manages to take possession of Megatronus Prime from Sentinel Prime. This solidifies not only D-16’s transformation into Transformers villain Megatron, but also the connection between D-16 and Megatronus Prime. The connection between these two characters has been part of for a long time Transformers stories, with Transformers OneThe T-cog element finds a clever way to incorporate it into this new section of the universe.
Transformers One changed because Megatron wanted to be like Megatronus
A change in lore makes Megatronus Prime a slightly different character
As mentioned, Megatron’s connection to Megatronus Prime in Transformers One is not exempt from changes in tradition. In most iterations of the characters, Megatronus Prime eventually becomes corrupted into The Fallen, one of the franchise’s most prominent villains. The Fallen appeared in live action Transformers film timeline, among several other versions, whether comic books or animated series. In each of these stories, The Fallen was once Megatronus Prime who, well, fell into darkness.
After this, The Fallen tends to become a high-ranking member of the Decepticons, explaining his connection to Megatron in most iterations of Transformers. Transformers Onehowever, it follows a slightly different path. Thanks to the film’s exploration of Megatron as D-16, it shows when he was friends with Orion Pax – later Optimus Prime – and actually inspired by the Primes. The great change in tradition about Transformers One is that Megatronus Prime never became The Fallen, instead dying a hero when the Sentinel betrayed the Primes.
Although Megatronus’ death before becoming The Fallen is a major shift in lore Transformers Onethe film even found a way to make the connection between him and D-16/Megatron…
Instead of D-16/Megatron being inspired by The Fallen and Decepticons, he was simply inspired by Megatronus Prime. The latter character was often depicted as the strongest of the Elder Primes, greatly influencing why D-16 revered him so much. Although Megatronus’ death before becoming The Fallen is a major shift in lore Transformers Onethe film even found a way to make the connection between him and D-16/Megatron.
Megatron obtaining Megatronus Prime’s T-Cog completes his villainous turn
Megatronus Prime is indirectly involved in Megatron’s creation
Despite not becoming The Fallen in Transformers OneIn the Megatronus Prime timeline it still influenced D-16’s downfall on Megatron. This came in the form of the aforementioned plot point, which saw D-16 steal Megatronus Prime’s T Gear from Sentinel Prime. D-16 was already heading down a dark path before this point Transformers Onehistory, but obtaining Megatronus Prime’s gear saw his transition to Megatron set in stone.
Given that D-16 already thought of Megatronus Prime as the strongest of the Primes, the T-cog imbued D-16 with the same strength. Calling himself Megatron, the villain then used this strength to amplify his already growing bloodlust and need for revenge, killing Sentinel Prime and turning against Orion Pax. This explains how D-16 became Megatron in Transformers Onestemming from the cleverly altered connection the character has with Megatronus Prime in the franchise’s newest iteration.