Summary

• Chris Hemsworth's take on Optimus Prime in Transformers One will be different from Peter Cullen's, depicting a brash and inexperienced version of the character.
• Hemsworth's comments about making his performance distinct are a relief, and they make sense of the movie's recast.
• The decision to cast Hemsworth over Cullen for Transformers One was necessary to showcase the character's development and differentiate between different Transformers continuities.

I am more optimistic about Chris Hemsworth voicing Optimus Prime in live-action Transformers films since 2007. Cullen's voice has long been synonymous with Optimus Prime, and his presence provided consistency as the Transformers movies changed with different directors, stories, human protagonists, and time periods.

Hemsworth voicing Optimus Prime instead of Cullen in Transformers One is a significant departure that made me skeptical about the film, especially since Cullen has voiced the character in animation before. An Optimus Prime and Megatron origin story without Cullen seemed like it would be incomplete. Fortunately, Hemsworth's comments have me feeling much better about Transformers One and its ability to tell a good Optimus Prime story — even without Cullen's familiar voice.

Chris Hemsworth's Optimus Prime Is Meant To Be Different From Peter Cullen's

Transformers One's Version Of The Character Is Young & Inexperienced

Screen Rant attended the San Diego Comic-Con for Transformers One, where Hemsworth spoke about his character in the prequel. Hemsworth said, "What Peter Cullen has done with the character is so incredible. … The goal was never to mimic or sound like Peter Cullen. This was about the brashness of Orion. ... It helped ground the story." While Hemsworth praises Cullen's iconic voice performance as Optimus Prime, he clarifies that his version of the character is meant to be completely different. This includes the brash nature of Orion Pax, who is not yet the wise and experienced Optimus Prime.

While Hemsworth praises Cullen's iconic voice performance as Optimus Prime, he clarifies that his version of the character is meant to be completely different.

Cullen's voice exudes authority, wisdom, and earned confidence from many years of experience, convincing viewers everything is going to be okay. Mimicking that would not only be a disservice to Cullen, but it would also not fit with the iteration of the character Hemsworth is playing. Transformers One's version of the character is young, inexperienced, and only at the beginning of his journey as Optimus Prime. The only way to ground this portrayal of the character is for Hemsworth to put his own spin on it and make it distinct from Cullen.

Transformers One's Different Optimus Prime Portrayal Explains Peter Cullen's Recast

Peter Cullen's Voice Would Not Have Worked With This Optimus Prime

Hemsworth's comments now make me glad that Cullen was not cast in Transformers One, as he would have brought his usual gravitas to the role — and it wouldn't have fit this iteration of Optimus. It would have been jarring to hear Cullen's voice and see the character acting impulsively and immaturely. The only way to avoid this issue was to recast the role, and Hemsworth is an excellent choice. After all, his most iconic role, Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is a character who grows from impulsivity and immaturity to becoming a worthy hero and leader.

In addition to playing Thor in the live-action MCU films, Chris Hemsworth voiced Thor in the animated What If...? series.

Despite taking place long before the events of the Transformers movie, Transformers One is also not a direct prequel and takes place within its own continuity. Featuring different voice actors is a way to further communicate the distinction between the various Transformers continuities, a distinction that would be more difficult to make if Cullen was still voicing Optimus Prime. I am now much more excited about experiencing Hemsworth's new and distinct performance as Optimus Prime in Transformers One.