'Transformers: Age of Extinction': Optimus Prime Gets a New Look (PHOTO)

Next summer will see the release of "Transformers: Age of Extinction," the fourth (!) installment of the lucrative, robot-filled "Transformers" franchise and the last to be directed by series mastermind Michael Bay. At this point, it's kind of mind-boggling to think of what else the "Transformers" team can dream up, after three movies that, amongst other things, saw the giant transforming robots lay waste to downtown L.A., eat part of the great pyramids of Egypt, and pretty much destroy most of Chicago (before it was cool).

While rumors of the dinobots making an appearance in the fourth film have yet to be confirmed, the cover of U.K.'s Empire magazine has revealed a new wrinkle for the series -- Optimus Prime's sword!

The heroic robot, who transforms into a big-rig truck and is voiced by longtime series star Peter Cullen, can be seen on the magazine's cover brandishing a giant sword, like an Arthurian legend mixed with steam-punk aesthetics. The robot himself seems to have been dramatically redesigned as well, with more rounded edges and a different muzzle. 2014's model looks a whole lot different.

Also on the cover are the three main human stars of "Transformers: Age of Extinction:" Mark Wahlberg, who plays a father and "struggling inventor" (yes, seriously), Nicola Peltz as Wahlberg's daughter, and Jack Reynor as her boyfriend, who also happens to be a world class race-car driver. Other humans in the cast not featured on this magazine cover include Kelsey Grammer, T.J. Miller, Stanley Tucci, and Titus Welliver.

"Transformers: Age of Extinction" opens on June 27, 2014, in 3D. On earth and Cybertron.