In the original “Transformers” series, Megatron transformed into a handgun; he’d shrink down so the other Decepticons could fire him. (Pictured above.) When he transformed back into a robot, the scope on his gun form became the all-powerful fusion cannon affixed on his right arm. The live-action “Transformers” movies ditched the gun mode, resulting in a Megatron who barely resembled his classic appearance. No fusion cannon, no “buckethead” helmet, nada.
“Transformers” concept artist Josh Nizzi proposed incorporating the helmet into Megatron’s “Dark of the Moon” design, with the idea being Megatron would start wearing it to cover his head wound. The final film went in a different direction, depicting Megatron as decrepit to reflect what was supposed to be his character arc.
Unlike the Autobots and other Decepticons, Megatron retained his original Cybertronian appearance in the first two “Transformers” movies. In the original, he transformed into an alien jet. After his resurrection in “Revenge of the Fallen,” he upgraded into a flying tank. Megatron is so proud and disdainful of humans that he didn’t lower himself to taking on an Earth vehicle mode.
But in “Dark of the Moon,” Megatron has had to suffer the indignity of becoming a robot in disguise, hence the tanker truck. Even the spikes lining his grille and bumper can’t disguise how much less imposing that is than Megatron’s older forms. Megatron first appears in “Dark of the Moon” transforming from truck to robot, and that conveys he’s past his prime; rather than a smooth shift from one shape to another, Megatron grunts in pain as his gears grind and sparks flash across his body.
When treacherous Decepticon lieutenant Starscream (Charlie Adler) gives Megatron some mocking pity, Megatron just barks empty threats, not even backhanding Starscream like he once would. Later in the movie, Megatron is easily overpowered and deposed by the Autobot double agent, Sentinel Prime (Leonard Nimoy).
Megatron’s arc, which comes through in the “Dark of the Moon” novelization and comic, is that hitting rock bottom and losing the power to sate his bloodlust has given him time to think. He’s decided that the war and everything that followed — betraying his brotherly friend Optimus, leading his beloved homeworld Cybertron to ruin, etc. — wasn’t worth it. So in the story’s third act, Megatron would come to Optimus’ aid to help him defeat Sentinel, then the two would end the war with a truce between Autobots and Decepticons.
In the final film, Optimus simply kills both Megatron and Sentinel. But the set-up for Megatron’s face turn is still there in earlier scenes, so that conclusion makes Optimus look just as bloodthirsty as his nemesis. There are compelling ideas behind Megatron’s appearance in “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” but the film doesn’t fully realize them.
