SDCC 2024: Transformers One: Chris Hemsworth Reveals Influence of Peter Cullen on His Optimus Prime

Chris Hemsworth says he uses the performance of legendary voice actor Peter Cullen as "an influence and motivation."

By Russ Burlingame

Chris Hemsworth is as big a fan as anybody of Peter Cullen's performance as Optimus Prime, so he was glad to learn that the young Orion Pax -- the character who would grow up to become Optimus Prime -- had a distinct personality that allowed him to play a little bit. Far from the brilliant leader of the Autobots that fans have known for decades, Transformers One's version of the character is cocky, young, hopeful, and flawed. Hemsworth told us during a press event at San Diego Comic Con that he actually came into the role expecting to be asked to take on the Cullen affect, and was pleased to be able to carve his own path.

Cullen's work -- which Hemsworth says he homages rather than mimics -- can be felt toward the end of the movie, which serves as an origin story for Optimus Prime and Megatron. For much of the film, though, expect a very different Optimus.

"This is not the godlike, all-knowing, powerful individual that Optimus Prime is, that we all know and love, and who certainly inspired me to want to take part in this role," Hemsworth told ComicBook. "This one's the youthful version -- the brash, cocky, young individual who is full of hope and enthusiasm and anti-authority and wants to break the rules, and chooses his own path. He's not one to conform to what society is telling him. There's a lot more humor and fun to that. I came in originally thinking I was going to do more of the Peter Cullen voice, and Josh Cooley, our director, was like 'no, no, this is not that version. He's not there yet.' It's very difficult to have a heap of humor and youthful banter in the Peter Cullen cadence. Toward the end of the film when he becomes Optimus Prime, we start to lean toward it, but I never wanted to mimic that anyway. I use it as an influence and a motivation and an inspiration, but what Peter Cullen has done is so iconic and brilliant, I'm leaving that on the mantelpiece as something I look toward and pay homage."

Transformers One is the untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, better known as sworn enemies, but once were friends bonded like brothers who changed the fate of Cybertron forever. 

In the first-ever fully CG-animated Transformers movie, Transformers One features a star-studded voice cast, including Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, with Laurence Fishburne, and Jon Hamm.

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Transformers One is directed by Josh Cooley from a screenplay by Eric Pearson and Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari. The film was produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Tom DeSanto & Don Murphy, Michael Bay, Mark Vahradian, and Aaron Dem, with executive producers Steven Spielberg, Zev Foreman, Olivier Dumont, Bradley J. Fischer, B.J. Farmer, and Matt Quigg.

Transformers One will be in theaters on September 20th.

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