Transformers: The Last Knight

Transformers: The Last Knight 2017

Test your knowledge of Transformers: The Last Knight with our quiz!

Plot Summary

Discover the intricate plot of Transformers: The Last Knight (2017). From unexpected twists to emotional highs and lows, this detailed summary breaks down every moment to give you a deeper understanding of the film’s story.


In 484 AD, the legendary King Arthur (Liam Garrigan) teams up with the wise wizard Merlin (Stanley Tucci), who forges an alliance with the Knights of Iacon—a formidable group of twelve Transformers hidden on Earth. The Knights bestow upon Merlin an extraordinary alien staff and transform into a colossal dragon, aiding Arthur in his battle against the Saxons.

Fast forward to the present day, where governments worldwide have branded Transformers as outlaws, leading to the formation of the Transformer Reaction Force (TRF), dedicated to exterminating these alien beings. Although Optimus Prime has departed Earth searching for his creator, new Transformers continue to touch down on the planet. The latest craft, however, crashes in the wreckage of Chicago, where a group of children stumbles upon it. The kids find themselves in peril as a TRF Mecha confronts them, but they’re rescued by Izabella (Isabela Moner), a brave survivor of the Battle of Chicago, along with her trusty Transformers, Sqweeks and Canopy. Tragically, Canopy is slain by the TRF during their escape. Just then, Bumblebee and Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg) arrive to assist, although Cade cannot save the injured Transformer onboard. In a final act, Canopy attaches a metallic talisman to Cade’s body, witnessed by Barricade, a Decepticon scout who quickly informs Megatron of this critical development.

In the far reaches of the Solar System, Optimus discovers that their home world, Cybertron, is disintegrating and hurtling towards Earth. He encounters Quintessa, a sorceress who claims to be his creator. With ambitions to harness the staff’s powers that were stolen from her and given to Merlin, she puts Optimus under her control, renaming him Nemesis Prime and commanding him to retrieve the staff. To make matters worse, Quintessa reveals that Earth itself is known as Unicron, Cybertron’s ancient foe, and she plans to siphon Earth’s life force to restore Cybertron.

Meanwhile, enormous horns emerge at six locations globally, with the Chinese dubbing them “The Horns from Hell.” NASA deduces that these horns are spawning an inter-galactic dimension that Cybertron will enter in just three days.

William Lennox (Josh Duhamel), a TRF member and former ally of the Autobots, brokers a deal between the TRF and Megatron, releasing a cadre of Decepticons to aid in the retrieval of the talisman from Cade. Following orders, William discloses Cade’s whereabouts to ensure that Megatron finds the staff, anticipating that the U.S. military will step in during the chaos.

The hunt for Cade leads Megatron to his junkyard sanctuary in South Dakota, where he and several surviving Transformers take refuge. After a tense standoff, Cogman, a Transformer emissary of British Lord Sir Edmund Burton (Anthony Hopkins), arrives to escort Cade and Bumblebee to England to meet his master. Upon arrival, Burton unveils a shocking revelation: he is the last living member of the Witwiccan order—a venerable brotherhood tasked with safeguarding the Transformers’ secret history on Earth. To his astonishment, he informs Cade that Viviane Wembly (Laura Haddock) is the last descendant of Merlin and holds the key to wielding the staff to avert the impending doom posed by Cybertron. The staff, fused with Merlin’s DNA, lies buried with him, safeguarded by the alien knights.

As they evade the TRF, Cade and Viviane uncover clues left by her father, which lead their team—Bumblebee, Cogman, and themselves—to venture into the depths of the sea aboard the submarine HMS Alliance. Their mission: to locate the Cybertronian Knights’ sunken vessel, where they ultimately discover Merlin’s tomb and his powerful staff. When Viviane activates the staff, the ancient ship resurfaces just as the TRF intervenes, leading to a confrontation.

In the heat of battle, Optimus—now under Quintessa’s control—confronts Bumblebee. At a crucial moment, Bumblebee speaks, breaking the enchantment and shattering Quintessa’s hold over Optimus. Megatron, revealed to be colluding with Quintessa all along, seizes the staff and escapes, but the Knights rise to challenge Optimus. In a spectacular turn of events, Cade’s talisman transforms into Excalibur, and he harnesses the power of the Knights, compelling them to yield to him and urging Optimus to once again protect Earth.

As Megatron delivers the staff to Quintessa, intending to drain Unicron’s life force via Stonehenge, the British military steps in. However, Megatron fatally shoots Burton, who perishes with Cogman at his side. The Autobots arrive with reinforcements, engaging in an epic showdown against the Decepticons and Quintessa’s minions. With the Knights’ support, Optimus confronts Megatron, ultimately sending him crashing back down to Earth while Bumblebee seemingly takes down Quintessa.

With Viviane extracting the staff, the imminent destruction of Earth is halted, albeit at the cost of Cybertron’s destruction. In a powerful message of unity, Optimus proclaims that humans and Transformers must collaborate to rebuild their worlds and sends out a call to any surviving Autobots to return home.

In a riveting mid-credits scene, scientists investigate one of Unicron’s protruding horns from the desert. Meanwhile, Quintessa, having survived and now disguised as a human, offers them a method to eliminate Unicron.

Timeline

Track the key events of Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) with a comprehensive timeline. Perfect for understanding the sequence of major plot points, this feature offers clarity on how the story unfolds.


King Arthur's Alliance

In 484 AD, King Arthur teams up with the wise wizard Merlin. Together, they forge an alliance with the Knights of Iacon, a formidable group of Transformers hidden on Earth.

484 AD

The Gift of the Staff

The Knights bestow upon Merlin an extraordinary alien staff, which becomes a key item in the battle against the Saxons. The Transformers transform into a colossal dragon to aid Arthur.

Transformers as Outlaws

Fast forward to the present day, Transformers are branded as outlaws by governments worldwide. This leads to the formation of the Transformer Reaction Force (TRF) aimed at exterminating them.

Crash in Chicago

A new Transformer craft crashes in the wreckage of Chicago. A group of children finds themselves in danger from a TRF Mecha but are rescued by Izabella and her Transformers.

Chicago

Canopy's Sacrifice

During their escape, the brave Transformer Canopy is slain by the TRF, leaving a significant impact on his friends. He manages to attach a metallic talisman to Cade before dying.

Optimus Prime's Quest

In the far reaches of the Solar System, Optimus Prime discovers that Cybertron is disintegrating. He meets Quintessa, who claims to be his creator and manipulates him into becoming Nemesis Prime.

Earth as Unicron

Quintessa reveals to Optimus that Earth is actually Unicron, an ancient foe of Cybertron, and plans to siphon Earth’s life force to restore his home world.

The Horns from Hell

Growing horns appear at six locations globally, prompting NASA to deduce they signify an inter-galactic dimension that Cybertron will enter within three days.

Betrayal from Within

William Lennox, a member of the TRF, brokers a deal with Megatron, releasing Decepticons to capture Cade. He discloses Cade's whereabouts, anticipating military intervention.

Cade and Viviane's Revelation

Cade and Viviane Wembly learn from Sir Edmund Burton that she is the last descendant of Merlin. Together, they must find Merlin's tomb to retrieve the staff necessary to save Earth.

England

The Mission Underwater

The team, including Bumblebee and Cogman, ventures underwater to locate the Cybertronian Knights' sunken vessel. They discover Merlin's tomb and the powerful staff.

Depths of the sea

Battle with Under Control

In a climactic confrontation, Bumblebee breaks Quintessa's control over Optimus. This leads to a fierce battle with Megatron and the Decepticons as the Knights rise again.

Final Showdown

Megatron delivers the staff to Quintessa at Stonehenge, where they attempt to drain Unicron's life force. The Autobots arrive to confront them, leading to an epic battle.

Stonehenge

Saved Earth, Destroyed Cybertron

Viviane manages to extract the staff, halting the destruction of Earth, but at the cost of Cybertron's destruction. Optimus calls for unity between humans and Transformers.

Mid-Credits Scene

In a compelling mid-credits scene, scientists investigate a horn from Unicron found in the desert. Quintessa, disguised as a human, offers a method to eliminate Unicron.

Characters

Meet the characters that bring Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) to life. Dive into detailed profiles of the cast and their roles, exploring their motivations, relationships, and arcs within the story.


Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg)

Cade Yeager is a resourceful inventor and protector of Transformers, embodying the spirit of a modern hero. He showcases determination in his quest to safeguard not just his friends but also the greater world from impending doom. His character evolves as he discovers his significant lineage tied to the Transformers' history.

🔧 Inventor 🦸‍♂️ Protector 🌟 Hero

Viviane Wembly (Laura Haddock)

Viviane Wembly is portrayed as a brilliant scientist who represents the connection between humanity and Transformers. As the last descendant of Merlin, she holds crucial knowledge that can change the course of history. Her courage and intellect shine through as she steps up to harness the powerful staff.

🧬 Genius 👩‍🔬 Scientist ⏳ Legacy

Optimus Prime (not provided)

Optimus Prime, the noble leader of the Autobots, faces a profound challenge as he is manipulated by the sorceress Quintessa. His internal struggle between his loyalty to humanity and his new purpose as Nemesis Prime creates a compelling narrative arc. Ultimately, his journey reflects themes of redemption and self-discovery.

🚗 Leader ⚖️ Justice 😡 Struggle

King Arthur (Liam Garrigan)

King Arthur represents the archetype of a heroic leader in the past, collaborating with Merlin and the knights to safeguard the realm. His valor and strategic acumen are pivotal in the battle against the Saxons. His legacy resonates through the centuries, influencing future generations.

⚔️ King 🛡️ Warrior 🏰Legend

Setting

Uncover the settings of Transformers: The Last Knight (2017), from iconic locations to the time period that shapes its world. See how these elements add depth and context to the movie’s narrative.


Time period

484 AD and present day

The narrative oscillates between 484 AD, where legendary figures like King Arthur and Merlin play a crucial role in history, and present day, where the world unjustly views Transformers as outlaws. This juxtaposition highlights the contrast between ancient alliances and contemporary conflicts, accentuating themes of legacy and modernity.

Location

Cybertron, Chicago, South Dakota, England, Stonehenge, HMS Alliance

The movie spans several locations, starting from the distant planet of Cybertron, which is disintegrating and poses a threat to Earth. Key action takes place in Chicago, known for its urban landscape, where a new Transformer craft crashes. South Dakota serves as a refuge for Cade and surviving Transformers, while the adventure leads to England and historical sites like Stonehenge, rich in ancient lore.

🌍 Earth 🚀 Cybertron 🏴‍☠️ Underwater

Themes

Explore the core themes of Transformers: The Last Knight (2017). From its commentary on social issues to its emotional undertones, delve into the deeper messages woven into the film’s story.


⚔️

Heroism

The theme of heroism is prevalent in both the historical and contemporary contexts of the film. Characters such as King Arthur and Cade display bravery and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. The Autobots, despite being hunted, constantly strive to protect humanity and their legacy.

🤝

Unity

Unity emerges as a crucial theme, particularly in the film's climax where humans and Transformers must collaborate to avert disaster. Optimus Prime's call to unite showcases the importance of solidarity in overcoming challenges, transcending differences for a common cause.

🔮

Fate

Fate plays a significant role as Cade discovers his lineage connected to Merlin's legacy. This idea of destiny intertwines the characters' lives across centuries, illustrating how past prophecies and connections influence present actions and outcomes.

© 2025 What's After the Movie?. All rights reserved.