'Transformers 3' Film Trailer Rewrites Historic Moon Landing

Houston, we have alien robots. NASA's historic first manned moon landing of 1969 has been given a new twist in the teaser trailer for the science fiction film "Transformers: The Dark of the Moon."

In the film trailer, which was released this week, director Michael Bay recreates the lunar landing by Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin  ? just like they did on July 20, 1969.

But after they land, things get strange. During a supposed period of radio silence, the Apollo 11 astronauts bunny hop away from the Eagle lunar lander and climb over a nearby hill to visit ... wait for it ? an alien spaceship that crashed into the moon.

"We're not alone after all, are we?" one of the astronauts asks in the trailer. [Video: "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" trailer at Newsarama]

The link between the new Transformers film and NASA is a strong one.

In October, Bay filmed part of the action movie ? which is the third and reportedly final installment in the live-action "Transformers" series ? at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. His visit coincided with the presence of NASA's space shuttle Discovery atop its seaside launch pad, though space agency officials were unable to confirm if the shuttle was actually filmed in any scenes.

The ?Transformers? films are based on the 1980s cartoon series of the same name that featured a team of good robots, the Autobots, in a war against evil robots, the Decepticons. Earth serves as their battleground.

Bay has revealed in some media interviews that the third Transformers film will look back at the race to the moon between the United States and former Soviet Union in the 1960s. He hinted that the trilogy's warring extraterrestrial robots will turn out to have played a significant behind-the-scenes role in mankind's entering the final frontier. 

• Video:  "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" trailer at Newsarama
• Robot 'Transformers' Invade Space Shuttle Launch Site For Sci-Fi Film
• Gallery: NASA's Sci-Fi Inspired Mission Posters