Optimus Prime and Peter Cullen Part Ways as Upcoming Transformers Movie Gets Chris Hemsworth to Voice Iconic Character
Science-fiction action movie Transformers based on the 1980s Transformers franchise is known as one of the most popular film series of all time. Director Michael Bay directed five live-action movies in the franchise starting in 2007 with Transformers, laying the foundation of the series Even with criticism from the critics and audience, the movie became one of the highest-grossing films of 2007 and has remained one of the classics people always go back to.
Optimus Prime is a fictional protagonist in the movie and the leader of the Autobots in search of AllSpark. Canadian actor, Peter Cullen has voiced the character ever since the inception of the live-action movies in the franchise. But Optimus Prime and Peter Cullen have parted ways and a familiar God-like voice will now voice Optimus Prime. Let’s find out who.
Also read: Jason Momoa Took Help From Chris Hemsworth to Prepare For His Potential Final Aquaman Movie
Chris Hemsworth won’t use his Australian accent to voice Optimus Prime in Transformers One
In an interview with Collider, Australian actor Chris Hemsworth known for portraying the God of Thunder; Thor in MCU will now voice Optimus Prime. But the leader of Autobots won’t have an Australian accent. He mentioned,
“No, I mean, we talked about this; Optimus Prime that you hear on the screen in the films is an older, mature, you know, he’s been around for many many many many years. This is a sort of origin story, so it’s the younger version of him.”
He continued,
“So there are sort of hints and colorings that hopefully resonate enough with the Optimus Prime we know, but it is youthful, version of him, and different. But he won’t be Australian.”
Scarlett Johansson is voicing Elita in the movie along with Brian Tyree Henry as Megatron, Keegan-Michael Key as Bumblebee, Jon Hamm as Sentinel Prime, and Laurence Fishburne as Alpha Trion.
The movie is said to be a prequel that revolves around the origins of Cybertron and the story will recount the tails of young Optimus Prime and Megatron.
Also read: Loki Concept Art Reveals a Benedict Cumberbatch Connection That Never Made it to Season 2
Chris Hemsworth reveals the reason he joined Transformers One
Upon being asked about his interest in the franchise and willingness to voice an iconic character, the Marvel actor said,
“It looks incredible. I love the script. That was one where I was not sure, I hadn’t done animation before, and then I mentioned it to my kids, and they went, “Oh yeah, that’s awesome!” It’s been really fun putting down some of the dialogue and weaving it in with the early days of the animation. It’s cool, it’s exciting. It’s Optimus Prime, come on!”
Transformers One will also mark the first time veteran actor Peter Cullen will not be voicing the character of Optimus Prime since 1986. The Canadian actor has voiced the character in animated series, video games, theme park rides, and all the live-action Transformers movies.
Some fans mentioned that maybe the makers did not call back the veteran actor who knows the character in and out because Hemsworth is a bigger star. His popularity as Thor might be helpful for the movie but at the same time, the Australian actor is not a voice actor by trade. Cullen brings in the dramatic weight Optimus Prime needs as the leader of Autobots. Fans are surely going to miss his voice every time Optimus Prime appears on-screen.
Transformers One is scheduled for a September 2024 release.
