Fans attending theatrical screenings of the remastered 1986 Transformers: The Movie will have the opportunity to see a new animated short titled "Optimus Prime: Awakening." This 12-minute short, described by Paramount as a "love letter to the Transformers community and the late Peter Cullen," is set to feature what is confirmed to be Peter Cullen's final performance as Optimus Prime.
The short is being presented as part of the 40th anniversary celebration of the original animated film. It will play after the movie concludes, at select showings, beginning September 17. "Optimus Prime: Awakening builds on the acclaimed storytelling and visuals of The Transformers: The Movie (1986), giving audiences the rare opportunity to experience the iconic cultural moment from the franchise’s past while exploring its future on the big screen," a press release stated.
Peter Cullen, who passed away at the age of 85, was the original and beloved voice of Optimus Prime for four decades. He was also known for his roles as Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh and as a narrator for various anime segments on Toonami. The announcement of the new short comes after fans speculated whether Cullen had completed any new Optimus Prime projects prior to his passing.
The short will also feature Frank Welker reprising his roles as Megatron and Soundwave. Welker, who collaborated with Cullen on numerous Transformers projects, shared his thoughts on working with the late actor one last time. "Peter’s portrayal of Prime was born of his own personal beliefs: honesty, loyalty, and always insisting on the right thing. This made it easy to be friends," Welker said. "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."