From playing with dolls to blockbuster director: Throwback to Travis Knight's unexpected journey to directing 'Bumblebee'

"Did you guys get the right number?" That's what the 'Bumblebee' director Travis Knight, renowned for his "weird little artisanal indie films," amusingly asked Paramount Studios and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura when they invited him to steer the upcoming 'Transformers movie. These details emerged at the premiere of 'Bumblebee' at the Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, reported by Variety in 2018.

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Knight's initial disbelief stemmed from the contrast between his quirky filmmaking style and the grandeur of the 'Transformers' franchise. Yet, his personal history with 'Transformers'—from watching the cartoons to playing with Bumblebee action figures—made him embrace the challenge with gusto.

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The daring move to bring in Knight paid off splendidly. 'Bumblebee' received an overwhelming response from critics, hailed as the best entry in the franchise and scoring a rare 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Angela Bassett, one of the co-stars, was thrilled, stating, "I'm so glad the movie delivered and that they are ecstatic about it."

The movie's success lay in its novel approach to rebooting a long-standing franchise, as pointed out by Justin Theroux. The actor lauded the decision to go back to the origins, infuse the narrative with heart, and strip away extraneous noise, making it a "different 'Transformers' movie."

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John Cena, one of the stars of 'Bumblebee,' attributed the film's triumph to Knight's cool, composed demeanor. Despite the pressure of redefining a franchise and making bold changes, Knight remained unfazed.

Reflecting on the film's success, lead actress Hailee Steinfeld, who also contributed a song to the movie, said she was "speechless" over the praise the film received.

Thus, from indie flicks to the helm of a major blockbuster, Travis Knight's journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. His singular touch on 'Bumblebee' has, undoubtedly, transformed the 'Transformers' franchise forever.

(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)