Who Is Mirage? Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts’ Porsche Explained

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts has introduced a new Autobot named Mirage, and here’s everything there is to know about the new character. Mirage is being set up as a major player in the upcoming Transformers film, with the Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.8 being the main focus of the Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Super Bowl trailer. Unlike previous Transformers heroes like Bumblebee and Optimus Prime, Mirage isn’t nearly as popular of a character, causing many to ask questions about the Autobot’s origins, powers, and role in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is the next film in the popular Transformers franchise, with the movie being based on the iconic Beast Wars storyline. In the film, the Autobots and their human companions come across the Maximals and the Predacons, two warring clans of Transformers that have the ability to transform into mechanical animals. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts seems to be mostly disconnected from Michael Bay’s previous Transformers movies, acting as a sequel to 2018’s Bumblebee. Like most Transformers characters, Mirage has a rich and historied backstory, and everything there is to know is covered here.

Related: Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts Is Breaking 1 Major Bumblebee Trend

Mirage’s Origins & History In Transformers

Like many of Transformers‘ other main characters, Mirage is a generation 1 Autobot, with his roots being traced back to the very beginning of the franchise. Although the character isn’t as mainstream as some of the other Transformers characters, Mirage is a big part of the series, appearing in many of Transformers‘ most popular stories throughout comics, animation, and film. Mirage has undergone a number of different iterations, with the character also being called Dino in some Transformers storylines. However, the upcoming version of Mirage from Transformers: Rise of the Beasts seems to be hearkening back to the character’s original design from the 1980s.

In the lore of Transformers, Mirage was a wealthy Cybertronian before the Great War broke out. Mirage decided to join the Autobots in fighting against the Decepticons, although he didn’t particularly align with the beliefs of the Autobots. Mirage has been known to have some Decepticon sympathies, something that could be explored with Transformers: Rise of the Beasts‘ Maximals. Mirage is a fun-loving but egotistical rogue, often going against the Autobots but still ultimately fighting against the Decepticons. Mirage is sure to be a fun departure from ultra-serious characters like Optimus Prime, adding a fun new dynamic to Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts actually isn’t the first time Mirage has appeared in live action, with the character having previously debuted in Michael Bay’s films. Mirage works alongside Bumblebee in Transformers: Dark of the Moon, although he doesn’t appear again after the film. Transformers: Age of Extinction confirms that Mirage is still alive, but he’s never seen again. Michael Bay’s version of Mirage is quite different, with the Italian Autobot being a red Ferrari 458. However, with questions about Transformers: Rise of the Beasts‘ canon status still existing, it seems likely that the new iteration of Mirage has no connection to the old version.

Mirage’s Abilities In Transformers & Why He’s A Porsche

Mirage actually has an interesting set of powers on top of the well-known ability for Autobots to transform into cars. Mirage is able to create projections of himself, as seen in the Transformers: Rise of the Beasts trailer, which can be helpful for confusing enemies. Mirage also has the power to turn himself invisible, another important stealthy skill. Some versions of Mirage even allow him to combine himself with other Autobot, with the character previously fooling Decepticons by turning into characters like Optimus Prime.

Related: Rise of The Beasts Improves A Key Transformers Design Flaw

Unlike the previous version of Mirage who was a Ferrari 458, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts‘ Mirage is a Porsche, raising some questions about the change. Even Mirage’s original G1 design was a Ligier JS11 Formula 1 race car, with Mirage’s Porsche design being completely new. One theory for this change is that Mirage is replacing another Porsche Autobot named Jazz. Mirage seems to be filling Jazz’s story role in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, so the film may have made Mirage a Porsche in order to honor Jazz. Another theory is that the car change has something to do with Mirage’s new voice actor not being Italian.

Who Voices Mirage In Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts

Pete Davidson will be voicing Mirage in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, with the major movie star taking over as the film’s leading Autobot. Pete Davidson is known for Saturday Night Live, which he left in 2022, as well as appearing in movies like The Suicide Squad, The King of Staten Island, and Bodies, Bodies, Bodies. Although he is most well known for live-action, Pete Davidson has done some voice acting before, appearing in the 2022 film Marmaduke.

Pete Davidson is succeeding previous Mirage voice actor Francesco Quinn, who played the Autobot in Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Although he is the same character, Quinn’s version of Mirage was actually called Dino due to a trademark dispute between Hasbro and Mattel over the Ferrari license. Sadly, Quinn passed away shortly after working on the film due to a heart attack, leading to the retirement of Mirage in the Michael Bay universe.

How Will Mirage Fit Into Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts?

Mirage seems to be a main character in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts‘ Beast Wars storyline, most likely playing a similar role to the one he played in the comics. Mirage is also the car of the film’s human lead, Noah Diaz, played by Anthony Ramos. Diaz is a former military electronics expert who unwillingly gets wrapped up in the conflict between the Autobots and the Decepticons after discovering the Porsche that is later revealed to be Mirage. Not much is known about Mirage’s story, but his Pete Davidson casting means that he may play a role in future Transformers films.

Related: Transformers 7’s Beast Wars Callbacks Show How Far The Franchise Has Come

Interestingly, Mirage seems to be the replacement for Bumblebee’s role in Michael Bay’s Transformers movies, with both characters being the sidekicks of the human leads while also acting as the audience’s introduction into the world of Autobots and Decepticons. Mirage replacing Bumblebee in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is a nice change of pace, as Bumblebee has already been explored in Bay’s films as well as his own spin-off movie. Mirage has lots of potential, and it is exciting that the G1 Autobot will finally get a leading role in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.

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