The Last Knight opens to less than half of Age of Extinction’s domestic debut, even as it sets a franchise opening record in China. John DeLuna hosts while Brian is out sick, and the crew blames franchise fatigue and oversaturated trailers. Titans Return Trypticon turns up overseas, along with reports of hip breakage. Full Masterpiece Cassettebot vs. Cassettron images arrive, and Black Convoy gets a second run. Plus FansToys Koot test shots and Diecast’s Last Knight Deluxe haul.
News
The Last Knight Is the Lowest Domestic Opening for Transformers
The Last Knight opened domestically at less than half of Age of Extinction’s opening weekend. One host notes it had the franchise’s biggest opening in China, about $130 million, but still projects below Age of Extinction overall there. One host calls it the best Transformers movie since the first, and Don thinks franchise fatigue kept people home. Another counters that it only looks good next to the earlier films. Rob’s biggest relief is that nothing Optimus Prime did offended him this time. The crew agrees the trailers showed too much and that transformation has stopped being the point. [Source: TFormers]
Bumblebee Movie to Begin Filming in August
The Bumblebee spinoff starts filming in August, and the studio is backing away from a movie every year. One host has read it will have a smaller scope, a lower budget and a tighter cast, and calls it the franchise’s turning point. Rob thinks a new director helps most, while Don is not excited about another Bumblebee showcase. Another host is excited simply to see a different director’s take. [Source: TFormers]
Titans Return Trypticon Sighted at an Overseas Toy Store
Trypticon has turned up at an Australian chain, where some stores stock him in the pet department. He costs about $250 US there, so the crew advises against importing. Big Bad Toy Store has moved its date to July. In the chat, Juanito Black flags reports of hip joints breaking under their own ratchets, which the crew has also heard about. [Source: TFormers]
Figure King 233 Magazine Scans
Figure King 233 scans cover The Last Knight, Legends, Masterpiece and more. [Source: TFormers]
Masterpiece Cassettebot vs. Cassettron Full Reveal
Full images show the MP-15/16-E set, including a newly molded Cassettebot. Exvee says Nightstalker turns out gray, not black, and he loves orange Stripes and Wingthing. Don is unsure, remembering how expensive Masterpiece Soundwave’s cassette two-packs were. [Source: TFormers]
Masterpiece and Legends Stock Photos
TakaraTomy released 360-degree views of MP-39 Sunstreaker and MP-12+ Sideswipe. New Legends stock photos cover Sharkticon and Sweeps, Hot Rod, Kup, Sixshot, Doublecross, Misfire, Broadside and Trypticon. Don thinks Hot Rod looks better than before, but Misfire is his definite buy for the Targetmaster. One host says Hot Rod’s clear stained-glass chest is the deciding factor. [Source: TFormers]
Tokyo Toy Show Black Convoy Gets a Second Run
TakaraTomy says it underestimated demand for the Tokyo Toy Show Black Convoy and will run it again. The crew cannot recall a second run of a convention exclusive before. Don passes, since he will not pay that much for the mold. [Source: TFormers]
Third-Party News
FansToys FT-22 Koot Color Test Shots
Color test shots show Koot, FansToys’ unofficial Masterpiece-style Kup. Diecast expects it on his doorstep soon, possibly alongside FansToys’ Seaspray. Rob gives it a thumbs up, apart from a big seam in the chest. Exvee says the vehicle mode is overly long in the back. Don likes it more than the official versions, but already has both Hasbro and Takara Kups. Everyone loves the name. [Source: TFormers]
What’s on TFormers
MPM-3 Bumblebee Designer Interview
Rob points to Chevrolet Japan’s interview with Movie Masterpiece Bumblebee designer Yuya Onishi, in rough machine translation. [Source: TFormers]
Review: Titan Changer Megatron
TFormers posted a video review of Last Knight Titan Changer Megatron. [Source: TFormers]
Last Knight Merchandise at Universal Studios
A non-transforming figurine set with Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Megatron and Sqweeks turned up at Universal Studios, with very little paint. [Source: TFormers]
Lost Light #7 Review
Rob posted his review of Lost Light #7 and says he will stop reviewing the series, explaining why in the piece. Writer James Roberts was a good sport on Twitter and offered to talk with him about it. [Source: not found]
This Week in History
In 2007, the first live-action Transformers movie was screened for BotCon 2007 pre-registrants, a week before release. The crew remembers when a single crude joke was the worst thing to worry about.
What We Got This Week
Don finally got the Transformers: The Movie Blu-ray steelbook. As a kid he recorded the rented movie onto audio tape, so he knows it by heart.
Exvee said he got nothing this week.
Diecast got the rest of The Last Knight’s second Deluxe wave: Drift, Steelbane and Dinobot Slug. He already had Sqweeks from an early order for review. He bought them from Hasbro Toy Shop with a 20% coupon and free shipping, and has not opened Steelbane, which has reported tolerance problems.
John had nothing in Transformers this week.
Radio Free Cybertron is the world's first and oldest toy and action figure podcast — broadcasting from the heart of the Transformers fan community since October 1999. What started as a scrappy fan show has grown into an institution, with nearly 1,000 episodes and over 25 years of coverage. Every week, host Brian Kilby and the RFC crew dig into the latest Transformers news, toy reveals, collecting, and everything hitting shelves from Hasbro, Takara, and beyond. No fluff, no hype — just informed, passionate collectors who have been doing this longer than anyone else on the planet. The original. The longest running. Till all are one.