Optimus Prime: Awakening
 | An editor has determined that sufficient sources exist to establish the subject's notability. (September 2026) |
| Optimus Prime: Awakening | |
|---|---|
 Release poster | |
| Directed by | Josh Wassung |
| Written by | Ryan Parrott |
| Based on | |
| Produced by | Zev Foreman Cyrus Warner |
| Starring | Peter Cullen Frank Welker |
| Edited by | Sean Rourke |
| Music by | Bobby Krlic |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Hasbro Fathom Entertainment |
Release date |
|
Running time | 12 minutes |
| Country | United States |
Optimus Prime: Awakening is a 2026 American animated science-fiction short film based on the animated television series The Transformers. Alongside Frank Welker, it stars Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime, who is sent to an afterlife where he sees visions of conflict and is confronted by his past choices. Awakening features the final performance of Cullen, who died before its release, and is dedicated to his memory.[1][2][3][4][not in body]
Optimus Prime: Awakening premiered on September 17, 2026, attached to screenings of the 40th anniversary re-release of The Transformers: The Movie.
Plot
[edit]Upon his death, Optimus Prime is sent to an afterlife where he is confronted by a supernatural entity known as the One. Optimus pleads for the One to revive him so he may aid his Autobot allies. The One explains that, throughout every timeline, Optimus will only continue to die fighting a war he is prolonging. The One shows Optimus a vision in which he is attacked by Decepticons, including his friend Bumblebee, who berates Optimus for leading the Autobots into a war they cannot win.
After being freed from the vision, Optimus begs to be sent back once more, insisting that he only fights to protect the innocent. The One shows him a vision of Unicron destroying Earth, telling him that if he continues on a path of conflict, more life will be killed. During the vision, Optimus's hand briefly turns into a human hand.
Optimus is sent to one final vision of war on Cybertron, the Transformers' home planet. He saves Bumblebee from Megatron, who tells Bumblebee that if Optimus intended to kill him, he would have already done so. Optimus overpowers Megatron but spares him despite Bumblebee's urging, and discards the Matrix of Leadership. Optimus leaves through a glowing doorway, telling Bumblebee that he will understand his choice someday, and that he must leave to "light [their] darkest hour". Afterwards, Megatron recovers the Matrix.
Voice cast
[edit]- Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime
- Frank Welker as Megatron and Soundwave
- Simon Henderson as the One
- Jaret LeMaster as Bumblebee
- Mathieu Bourassa as Starscream
- Scott Law as Kickback
- Gray Powell as Shrapnel
Production
[edit]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.
As part of the 40th anniversary "apology tour" of The Transformers: The Movie, Fathom Events announced that they would re-release the film from September 17–21, 2026.[6] Including a short tease at the end of a 40th anniversary rerelease trailer, later revealed to be a post-credit short created exclusively for the theatrical event.[7] Details for the short were later revealed in early September 2026, where in addition to Cullen, Frank Welker would reprise his roles as both Megatron and Soundwave.[8]
Release
[edit]Optimus Prime: Awakening premiered on September 17, 2026, at the Landmark Sunset Theatre, attached to screenings of the Hasbro 40th anniversary re-release of The Transformers: The Movie, followed by a Q&A with Steve Weintraub and director Wassung.[9] The short will be included as a bonus feature on the 40th anniversary 4K Ultra HD steelbook of The Transformers: The Movie released by Shout! Factory.[10][failed verification]
Reception
[edit]![[icon]](/everything/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (September 2026) |
References
[edit]- ↑ Etan Vlessing (August 27, 2026). "Peter Cullen, Voice of Optimus Prime in 'Transformers,' Dies at 85". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
- ↑ Sopan Deb (August 27, 2026). "Peter Cullen, Voice Actor Who Gave Optimus Prime a Soul, Dies at 85". The New York Times. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
- ↑ Tracy Brown (August 27, 2026). "Peter Cullen, actor who voiced Optimus Prime and Eeyore, dies at 85". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
- ↑ Schneider, Rachel. "New Transformers Animated Short Reveals Peter Cullen's Final Optimus Prime Performance (Exclusive)". ScreenRant. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ Schneider, Rachel (September 1, 2026). "New Transformers Movie Reveals Peter Cullen's Final Optimus Prime Performance". ScreenRant. Retrieved September 1, 2026.
- ↑ Kit, Borys (May 18, 2026). "The Transformers: The Movie Getting Theatrical Re-Release From Fathom (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
- ↑ Parlevliet, Mirko. "The Transformers: The Movie 40th Anniversary Trailer Hits". Vital Thrills. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ Schneider, Rachel (September 1, 2026). "New Transformers Movie Reveals Peter Cullen's Final Optimus Prime Performance". ScreenRant. Retrieved September 1, 2026.
- ↑ Jones, Tamera. "Win Tickets to Hasbro and Collider's Special Transformers Screening Event With Q&A". Collider. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ "The Transformers: The Movie 40th Anniversary Edition (Limited Edition". GRUV Entertainment. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
External links
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