Earlier this month, Hasbro Studios and Paramount Pictures announced that the next Transformers movie will be called Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. It will also incorporate characters from the Transformers: Beast Wars TV series. Now, Collider is reporting that Ron Perlman has been cast as the voice of Optimus Primal in Rise of the Beasts.
In Beast Wars, Optimus Primal and his Maximals were from the future of Cybertron, and the successors of the Autobots. However, the Maximals and their rivals, the Predacons, were accidentally trapped in Earth’s distant past. That’s why Primal’s alternate form is a gorilla instead of a vehicle.
Garry Chalk originated the role of Optimus Primal on Beast Wars. Regardless, Perlman has previously portrayed Primal in the Transformers: Power of the Primes animated series.
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Perlman is best known among genre fans for portraying Hellboy in two films, and for his starring role in the ’80s Beauty and the Beast TV series. He has also appeared in Blade II, Pacific Rim, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. On television, Perlman has also starred in Sons of Anarchy and Hand of God.
Rise of the Beasts will take place in the ’90s, with Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback in the leading roles. Steven Caple Jr. is set to direct the film from a script by Darnell Metayer and Josh Peters.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will hit theaters on June 24, 2022.
What do you think about this casting news? Let us know in the comment section below!
Recommended Reading: The Transformers: The IDW Collection Vol. 1
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