Transformers 4 Will Feature Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime

This will be little surprise to fans of the shape-changing robots, but veteran voice actor Peter Cullen confirmed this week that he'll return to reprise his role as Optimus Prime in Transformers 4, Michael Bay's final directorial outing in the franchise. Cullen has played the role in various TV series, video games and movies since 1984. "I just know that I'm going to be part of it and I'm very happy about that and I'm looking forward to getting into production," Cullen told IGN. "I think that is sometime in the late spring and for a 2013 premiere. So Michael Bay has an awful lot of time to do his magic." Asked about whether the film itself will recognize the end of Bay's involvement, Cullen stayed on message with everything the filmmaker has said before; this isn't going to be a finale, but rather the beginning of a new chapter (and in this case, designed as a new trilogy). "I don't think there's ever going to be a big finale," said Cullen. "I think, as all series go, it's always a transformation – there's a good word! – into another environment. But it's pretty much like man going to the moon, you know? "Well, that was one season, but now we're going to Mars! Now there's a whole new adventure there!" Who knows? I think it's just as exciting to be wondering where it's going to go next, you know?"