The Transformers One trailer reveals that Optimus Prime and Megatron were once friends, raising questions about what ultimately tore them apart.

The Transformers One trailer highlights a friendly rapport between Optimus Prime and Megatron, which stands in stark contrast to the sinister reputation the latter is known to have in the lore. Among the constants of the Transformers franchise is Megatron’s role, given that the character is traditionally depicted as a villain across all his movie appearances. Interestingly, though, that’s not the impression provided by the Transformers One trailer, which paints him in a much more positive light.

The first trailer for the upcoming film offers a deep look at what to expect from the animated Transformers adventure. Directed by Josh Cooley, Transformers One will dive into the past of Optimus Prime as he fights alongside a team of Autobots during his early days on Cybertron. Among his allies at this point in the Transformers timeline are Scarlett Johansson’s Elita, Bumblebee, and perhaps most surprisingly, Megatron. Despite their iconic rivalry and Megatron’s history of attacks against Earth, it’s made clear in the footage that there was a time when Optimus Prime and Megatron actually got along quite well.

Megatron Was Once Optimus Prime’s Friend In Transformers Comics

In several Transformers continuities, Optimus Prime and Megatron’s relationship is consistent with the movies, with it being understood that they’ve never been on the same side. This extends to their younger days on Cybertron when Optimus Prime used the name “Orion Pax.” One exception to that interpretation of their history is IDW’s Transformers comic book series, which has revealed that in its universe, the classic villain wasn’t always unapologetically evil. In some of these stories, Megatron and Orion Pax were even shown to be friends. Unfortunately, they were driven apart by ideological differences.

The Megatron seen in IDW’s Transformers comics started out as a Cybertron resident driven by a strong stance on his planet’s politics. Megatron had deep-rooted, political beliefs about the direction Cybertron was taking. In his mind, Cyberton was becoming weak in its avoidance of territorial expansion. His opposition to this culminated in the character leading violent movements. Ultimately, his views put him on a collision course with Orion, with their contrasting ideals laying the foundation for their future rivalry as Optimus Prime and Megatron.

Transformers One Is Telling A New Story, But Honors Multiple Continuities

While the friendliness between Optimus Prime and Megatron speaks to a level of influence that IDW’s comics may have had on Transformers One, it’s still an original story nonetheless. Optimus and Megatron serving together on a team of Autobots and the two getting their powers from the same source goes to show that Transformers One definitely stands on its own. However, the emphasis that the trailer seems to be putting on how close their dynamic feels like a poignant reminder of the movies, which established that Optimus Prime once regarded Megatron as a “brother.” This dynamic appears to be the relationship Transformers One is building for their origin story.