Transformers: The Twins Almost Made a Controversial Comeback

Almost every character from the Transformers series has a dedicated fan base. Characters who were once widely disliked, such as Wheelie from “The Transformers: The Movie” with his rhyming speech style, still have followers in today’s world. Similarly, characters like those from “Beast Wars” or “Transformers Animated,” which initially split opinions among fans, have gone on to inspire passionate fandom over the past few decades. There’s also the case of Arcee from IDW Comics, an early version of the character that was criticized for certain story elements perceived as transphobic. However, more recent interpretations of the character have been met with overwhelmingly positive responses, even from trans commentators.

In such a diverse and wide-reaching fan community as that of Transformers, it’s no surprise that there are fans who appreciate even the less popular characters. However, it might be challenging to find supporters of Skids and Mudflap from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, often referred to as The Twins. These characters were criticized heavily in 2009 for their portrayal of harmful racial stereotypes and outdated, annoying jokes. Despite this, it’s worth noting that these twin characters nearly made an appearance in Transformers: Dark of the Moon in 2011.

Where Did The Twins Go?

Prior to the release of “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” director Michael Bay repeatedly highlighted that The Twins were intended as lovable comedic sidekicks for children. However, these aspirations fell flat as the film turned out to be excessively violent and crude, making it unpopular with families. Additionally, The Twins were so annoying, even beyond accusations of racial stereotyping, that no moviegoers appreciated their actions. As a result, there was little enthusiasm for The Twins returning in future Transformers installments.

As the release of Transformers: Dark of the Moon approached, director Michael Bay adopted a more apologetic tone when discussing The Twins. He revealed that this new version would significantly reduce humor in all aspects and, importantly, would eliminate The Twins completely. In fact, in mid-May 2011, Bay boldly offered $25,000 to any cinema-goer who could spot them appearing in the final cut of Dark of the Moon. It’s clear that the criticism aimed at these characters struck a chord with Bay, and he used their removal as a key reason for audiences to consider watching Dark of the Moon.

Interestingly, in Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Skids and Mudflap are present, sort of. In a single scene, small orange and green-striped cars that were initially designed as their alternative modes are visible. This scene suggests that Skids and Mudflap were intended to join their Autobot comrades like Sideswipe in the fight. However, it seems that these characters were removed from the film before the costly CG effects for their robot forms were completed. This one shot provides a hint of how we nearly got more of the most disliked Transformers.

What Were The Twins Doing in Dark of the Moon?

Information from merchandise tie-ins for popular films, such as LEGO sets or comic books, should not be relied upon to understand a film’s plot. Many fans on the internet have attempted to decipher these items in hopes of predicting the newest Marvel or Star Wars movie’s storyline. However, recurring plot elements from various Dark of the Moon comics and book adaptations suggest that The Twins would have had a more significant role in Dark of the Moon. For instance, the IDW comic adaptation of Dark of the Moon provides details about how The Twins could have been the next Autobots to be defeated by Sentinel Prime shortly after he killed Ironhide.

In a hypothetical scenario, it’s more likely that Skids would meet his end first, while Mudflap would be swiftly eliminated by Optimus Prime shortly after. The intention to expel undesirable figures such as The Twins from ‘Dark of the Moon’ is clear, but the scene where Sentinel Prime slaughters Skids and Mudflap was left out of the final movie. The death of Ironhide already conveys that Sentinel Prime is a merciless adversary. Adding his immediate elimination of Skids and Mudflap would have been unnecessary, given their minimal connection to ‘Dark of the Moon’s’ main narrative. Furthermore, the prolonged nature of these deaths (with Skids being killed before Mudflap) might not have resonated well with characters that played such a minor role in the movie’s overall storyline.

Indeed, it’s likely that some spectators would have rejoiced at the sight of Skids and Mudflap suffering such a violent end at the hands of a formidable Transformers villain. However, their robot forms were only featured in “Revenge of the Fallen,” with their vehicle forms appearing briefly in “Dark of the Moon.” Given their notoriety within the Transformers universe and even among its dedicated fan base, it’s understandable why the producers might have opted to write them off as a singular appearance. After all, these characters have struggled to gain popularity, even within the realm of Transformers fandom, where any robot has the potential to become beloved.

Transformers: Revnege of the Fallen is now streaming on Paramount+.

2025-03-20 19:43

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