Transformers trailer sparks fury online
Transformers released a string of teasers and behind-the-scenes footage ahead of the June premiere of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts - but quickly stripped a scene that appeared reminiscent of the September 11 attacks.
The seventh Transformers movie in the franchise is set to hit Aussie cinemas on June 22, and Transformers shared an extended trailer that showed the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre surrounded by black smoke, according to the New York Post.
The scene’s evocation of 9/11 shocked viewers and many didn’t believe the image could be affiliated with a Transformers movie.
“This image certainly made me stop scrolling,” wrote Twitter user Daniel Kibblesmith, alongside the jarring screenshot from the trailer.
Kibblesmith’s tweet attracted more than 2.5 million views in less than 24 hours after being posted.
Transformers’ caption read, “It’s about to be epic. Go behind the scenes with our cast and crew, and meet the new characters of Transformers.”
As of May 23, the post no longer appears to be on the franchise’s Twitter page.
The nearly two-minute teaser features Anthony Ramos, who stars in Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts as Noah Diaz, an ex-military electronics specialist living in Brooklyn, New York.
“This is about to be epic. This is about to be epically crazy,” Ramos said in the behind-the-scenes clip.
The footage shows a peaceful NYC skyline with the Twin Towers before abruptly cutting to a shot of the Statue of Liberty in the foreground and the World Trade Centre covered in thick smoke in the background.
Steven Caple Jr, the movie’s director clarifies in the clip that the upcoming movie is “in chronological order, is the second Transformers movie – it takes place during the ’90s”.
“I didn’t think that it was possible, but here I am, even less interested than ever in seeing a Transformers movie. They’ve done it again, the mad genii,” one Twitter wrote.
“This could have been easily avoided if they’d picked literally any other city besides New York,” another tweeted.
“That is … an unfortunate shot,” yet another said of the upsetting image, while another said it was “too soon”.
Image credit: Twitter