Peter Cullen is set to voice Optimus Prime one final time in Optimus Prime: Awakening, a new 12-minute animated short from Hasbro. The short will be presented alongside select theatrical screenings of The Transformers: The Movie as the beloved 1986 animated classic celebrates its 40th anniversary.
A newly unveiled poster places Optimus Prime front and center, dressed in his iconic red and blue armor. Behind him are two mysterious, glowing figures, hinting at the return of other familiar characters from the Transformers universe.
Described as a fully realized animated short and a love letter to the Transformers community, Optimus Prime: Awakening draws inspiration from the storytelling and visual style of the original 1986 film while also looking toward the franchise’s future on the big screen.
For Cullen, returning to the role represents a fitting homecoming. The actor has been the voice of Optimus Prime for more than four decades, helping define the character for generations of fans. His final performance is also expected to explore a more emotional side of the Autobot leader while preserving the strength, courage and authority that have become synonymous with Optimus.
Rather than being treated as a conventional bonus feature, Optimus Prime: Awakening will be presented as a standalone theatrical short. Audiences will be able to watch it after the credits during anniversary screenings of The Transformers: The Movie.
The project will also reunite Cullen with another legendary Transformers voice actor. Frank Welker is returning as both Megatron and Soundwave, bringing another piece of the original cast back for what is being positioned as a final story featuring Cullen’s Optimus Prime.
Welker described the relationship between Optimus and Megatron as essential to the franchise’s drama, praising Cullen’s portrayal of Prime and the personal qualities he brought to the character. He also called the opportunity to return alongside Cullen for Optimus Prime: Awakening a gift and reflected on the friendship they developed over the years.
Meanwhile, The Transformers: The Movie will return to theaters in 4K from September 17 through September 22. Fathom Entertainment has also confirmed additional international screenings in France, Singapore, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and Peru.
For longtime Transformers fans, the anniversary screenings offer more than a chance to revisit a beloved classic. With Peter Cullen’s final performance as Optimus Prime accompanying the film, Optimus Prime: Awakening could mark an emotional farewell to one of the most iconic voices in animation history.
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