Peter Cullen’s Final Performance as Optimus Prime Is a Love Letter to ‘Transformers’ Fans

Jen Lennon Wed, September 2, 2026 at 9:09 AM UTC

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©Hasbro

After Peter Cullen, the longtime voice actor behind Optimus Prime, died last month at the age of 85, Hasbro’s upcoming 40th anniversary screenings of The Transformers: The Movie took on a new meaning. Not only would these theatrical events be a celebration of the film, but also of Cullen’s legacy and impact on the franchise. We couldn’t have asked for a better or more heartbreaking sendoff than seeing Optimus Prime’s death—and Cullen’s wrenching performance of it—on the big screen one last time.

Unless, hypothetically, Hasbro secretly put together a new 12-minute animated short “designed as a love letter to the Transformers community and the late Peter Cullen” that will be presented following select screenings of The Transformers: The Movie. Lucky for us, that’s exactly what it did.

According to a press release, “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.”

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Frank Welker, who voiced Megatron and Soundwave (plus Frenzy, Rumble, Wheelie, and Scrapheap) in the film, said, “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.”

You can see a new poster for Optimus Prime: Awakening below.

© Hasbro

There is no word yet on how to tell which screenings of The Transformers: The Movie will include Optimus Prime: Awakening. You can catch The Transformers: The Movie 40th anniversary 4K re-release in theaters from September 17 to 22.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”