Optimus Prime Awakening to run with Transformers movie re-release

Optimus Prime: Awakening will run alongside some showings of Transformers: The Movie, when it hits theaters this month.

Arise, Optimus Prime

It was a massive blow to the Transformers fandom, let alone the pop culture universe, when Peter Cullen passed away last month. The legendary actor had starred in a huge amount of roles over the years, after all. And many of those roles were in well-loved films and TV shows. None though, more so than his turn as Transformers‘ Optimus Prime.

Since taking up the robotic role in the 80s, Cullen’s iconic voice brought Prime to life through the decades, and across multiple forms of the core fiction. Those have included the original show, video games, and even the big budget Michael Bay films. Simply put, the man was a legend, and his loss hits in a very particular way. As it happens, it also comes on the precipice of Transformers: The Movie‘s 40th anniversary return.

The film, which saw the actor’s original run as Prime come to a close, will be making its way to theaters this month. That’ll be courtesy of Hasbro and Fathom Entertainment. Its re-release hype had something of a tongue-in-cheek presentation originally, with Hasbro joking that it would be the centerpiece of an “apology tour” for Optimus‘ death. Now that Cullen has passed away himself though, that marketing seems to be making a turn.

That starts with deemphasizing the former “it still hits like a truck” tag line, and raising the above-mentioned animated short to prominence.

The Awakening

Set to run with “select” presentations of the film, is an animated short that was formerly something of a question mark. And by that, we mean we had no idea what it was about. That however, is a shroud of mystery that’s starting to open a tad.

Optimus Prime: Awakening will have apparently have a wide scope. At least, that’s what it sounds like to us, since the short will explore both the past and future of the franchise. Being that it’s set to run for a total of 12 minutes too, we’re more than a little interested to see what’s included. Oh, and naturally, it’ll bring back Cullen as Prime, along with Frank Welker.

As fans know, Welker has voiced both Megatron and Soundwave, so there’s plenty of reason to be looking forward to Optimus Prime: Awakening. That’s not to say that it’s not bittersweet however. Officially, it will present the last time that Cullen and Welker will be playing opposite each other.

“Optimus Prime and Megatron were made for each other. After all, one needs the perfect hero against the epitome of evil to create great drama. Peter’s portrayal of Prime was born of his own personal beliefs; honesty, loyalty, and always insisting on doing the right thing.  This made it easy to be friends. Returning as Megatron and Soundwave for one final story opposite Peter’s Optimus in “Optimus Prime: Awakening” was a real gift. I will miss my friend, but that voice and his heart and values will always be part of Optimus Prime.”

Frank Welker

Transformers: The Movie opens in theaters on September 17th, for a run that’ll conclude on the 22nd. If you’re looking to catch Optimus Prime: Awakening along with it, make sure to check with your theater. Remember, the animated extra will only be “presented following select anniversary screenings of the original 1986 film.”.

Note: Other than the US, a selection of additional territories have been revealed for the film’s opening. Those include the “United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and Germany”, according to Fathom Entertainment.