Bumblebee may once again transform into a Beetle and find a starring role in the upcoming Transformers movie.

Fans of the series doubtless know that before Michael Bay turned Transformers into a surrealist CGI art-house movie franchise, Bumblebee was, in fact, a Beetle.

Bay even joked about it in the first Transformers film, but now that the series is returning to its '80s roots with a Bumblebee stand-alone movie, the Beetle may return.

“You might even see a VW Bug,” Transformers producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura told Entertainment Weekly. “You never know.”



The movie will not be directed by cinematographic nihilist Michael Bay, but will instead be taken over by Travis Knight, director of Kubo and the Two Strings.

The prequel will take on a very Herby-esque quality, too, as Bumblebee and the movie's human star, currently rumored to be True Grit's Hailee Steinfeld, will become fast friends who grow together.

“It’s the story of a 17-, 18-year-old girl who, through a series of events, she and Bumblebee find each other, and they make each other whole,” di Bonaventura tells Entertainment Weekly. “Bumblebee’s a very loving character. He’s got a lot of heart, so of course the idyllic life of these two is interrupted by the evil Decepticons. And how are they going to be able to deal with the problem without Optimus and without everybody else?”

So, Californians, if you were at all interested in buying a Beetle, act fast before the studio can get its mitts on them and drive up the prices.

[source: Entertainment Weekly ]