**Press Release**
Today, Hasbro and Fathom Entertainment unveiled new details about The Transformers: The Movie, returning to theatres internationally in 4K from September 17–22.
New Animated Short: “Optimus Prime: Awakening” Details
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Transformers: The Movie, Hasbro has created “Optimus Prime: Awakening” as a special animated short as part of its broader anniversary brand celebration. The short will be presented following select anniversary screenings of the original 1986 film.
“Optimus Prime: Awakening” is a fully realized, 12-minute animated short designed as a love letter to the Transformers community and the late Peter Cullen, the legendary talent and voice of Optimus Prime. “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.
Original Performances by the late Peter Cullen and Frank Welker
The animated short delivers emotional storytelling, electric action, and new performances by legends Frank Welker as Megatron/Soundwave and Peter Cullen in his final original voice performance as Optimus Prime.
Peter shared that returning for “Optimus Prime: Awakening” meant a great deal to him. He felt the project was a homecoming to a character he had shaped for more than four decades. Peter’s performance reveals a deeper vulnerability while retaining the unmistakable strength and authority that made his portrayal iconic.
Frank Welker shared: “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.”
New Markets
In addition to previously announced regions, today Fathom Entertainment confirmed screenings in France, Singapore, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and Peru.
Please see here for more information on The Transformers: The Movie re-release. Please see link here for Hasbro’s official statement regarding the passing of Peter Cullen.
