Starscream: the Movie is the thrilling tale of the ‘bot who rose from humble origins as a cold-constructed jet, to his period as a Senator for Nyon, to his period as second-in-command of the Decepticons, before ending with him becoming ruler of Cybertron and his subsequent arrest.
Directed by, written by and starring Thundercracker, this movie was initially conceived as an attempt for Starscream to win over the population of Earth following their induction into Cybertron’s Council of Worlds. But by the time it came out, not only had he been arrested, but the movie ended up going direct to streaming, due to the Box Office Bomb of fellow Cybertronian movie Dark Invasion. Though it did attract the attention of Space Battle creator J.J Hackensack, who went into business with Thundercracker to produce the Academy nominated The Last Laugh: A Chuckles Story.
Tropes featured in Starscream: the Movie include:
- Acting For Three: In addition to the lead role of Starscream, Thundercracker also cameos as himself and their former associate Skywarp, both of whom remodelled their bodies to resemble Starscream.
- Acceptable Breaks from Reality: Megatron’s interrogation at Starscream’s hands depicts him in his body from the initial invasion, whereas Word of God is that he was in the body he wore three years later at the time, for the purposes of recognition.
- Blatant Lies: Starscream insisting that he did not kill Metalhawk.
- Contrived Coincidence: Who’da think it that the two types of ‘bot Starscream wanted the assistance of in his crusade looked exactly like him?
- Creator Backlash: Starscream grew to regret commissioning the film after his imprisonment, to the point he sent armed guards to kill Thundercracker.
- Cross-Cast Role: Rodimus is played by the female Flamewar.
- Darkhorse Casting: Other than Sky-Byte, none of the cast have had any known involvement in prior performing arts (Flamewar hails from a planet that dabbles in theatre, though if she ever performed there is unknown).
- Gilligan Cut: Starscream insisting that he’ll do anything to unite Cybertron, even if it kills him, is followed by Windblade telling him that he suffered the metaphorical “death of prison”.
- Historical Hero Upgrade: Zigzagged. Starscream is mostly the same scumbag he was in life, but his viewpoint is used to make him more sympathetic.
- Inspiration for the Work: Starscream was inspired by the classic film “The Birth of Cybertron”, an old Cybertronian film that dramatised the struggles of the 13 who united Cybertron.
- The Other Marty: Acid Storm was originally cast in the lead role, but he left because he was dissatisfied with the script and annoyed at the constant full body paint job he had to endure. Thundercracker took over as he was the only other ‘bot they could find at short enough notice that looked like Starscream and knew the script.
- Purple Prose: Part of Thundercracker’s style and it pops up here.
- Stock Footage: The Decepticon riot in Iacon is represented by footage of the actual riot.
- Throw It In!:
- Starscream’s real life arrest for corruption led to the ending being rewritten to feature Windblade visiting him in prison.
- Waspinator’s cameo as “a lowly bug” seems to have been added after he walked in to pilfer from craft services.
- What Could Have Been: Thundercracker initially set out to make Susan Journeyer a movie alternatively described by those who read the script as “trite” and “containing a deconstructive quality reminiscent of Dogville. He abandoned it due to not feeling that he sympathised enough with the characters.
