Transformers One: Even After Playing Thor For More Than a Decade, Chris Hemsworth Felt a Little Intimidated to Carry Peter Cullen’s Legacy With His Best Optimus Prime Speech

SUMMARY

• Heading into the role, Chris Hemsworth had some huge shoes to fill in the absence of Peter Cullen.
• While the entire experience was fun, the actor did feel pressure during the most important speech in the film.
• Considering it pushed him to lean towards Cullen's iconic Optimus Prime voice, Hemsworth deemed it the most nerve-racking part.

Without Michael Bay at the helm, Paramount has struggled with the live-action Transformers releases. But after the lukewarm reception to Rise of the Beasts, instead of another live-action/CGI hybrid, the IP returned to its animation roots with Transformers One, starring Chris Hemsworth.

Transformers One (2024) | Credit: Paramount Pictures

However, the change in mediums wasn’t the biggest surprise, as, unlike most Transformers releases since its inception, this one didn’t involve Peter Cullen. Speaking of his time voicing a young Optimus Prime, Hemsworth recalled being intimidated by the responsibility of filling these huge shoes.

Leaning Towards Peter Cullen’s Vocal Cadence Was Nerve-Racking for Chris Hemsworth

Peter Cullen | Credit: Mingle Media TV/CC-BY-SA-2.0/Wikimedia Commons

Irrespective of the medium, Peter Cullen has always served as the voice of the all-knowing, wise Optimus Prime until Transformer One. So, heading into the role, Chris Hemsworth had some huge pressure on his shoulders, but fortunately for the actor, he didn’t have to mimic what Cullen brought to the table, at least for the most part.

Unlike Cullen’s serious and wise interpretation of the character, Transformers One, which serves as an origin story, focuses on Optimus Prime’s more playful side and how he became the wise leader. But in the end, which finally leans towards the Optimus Prime we all know, Hemsworth had to “lean into the cadence and the vocal quality of what Peter was doing” for the final speech, which he deemed “the most nerve-racking part”.

I was thankful that what wasn’t required of me was to come in and mimic/rip off what Peter Cullen had done. This was the youthful version. Playful, before he had become the all-knowing, wise Optimus Prime. Toward the end of the film, there’s kind of one speech or two where we really lean into the cadence and the vocal quality of what Peter was doing. And that was the most nerve-racking part for me.

Despite the challenges, the whole experience was “a lot of fun” for Hemsworth, and the film itself has been a huge hit among fans and critics.

Chris Hemsworth’s Kids Made Sure He Agreed to the Gig

Chris Hemsworth | Credit: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga/Warner Bros.

Even though the task of living up to Cullen’s iconic voice was reasonably intimidating, it didn’t take Hemsworth long to agree to the offer, thanks to his kids. The Furiosa star recalled that after he consulted with his kids about the gig, “They said, ‘Absolutely, you have to play this character“, and the actor came in well-prepared to live up to the standards set by Cullen.

He [Cullen] would sort of contort his neck and his, you know, body, into a position. I used that a little bit, too. I did exactly that, I had to kinda squash my vocal chords into a certain position

As for his message for the audience, Hemsworth hopes fans will enjoy the animated release for both its action and the heart they put into it.

Transformers One is currently running in theatres.

Written by Santanu Roy

Articles Published: 1750

Santanu Roy is a film enthusiast with a deep love for the medium of animation while also being obsessed with The Everly Brothers, Billy Joel, and The Platters. Having expertise in everything related to Batman, Santanu spends most of his time watching and learning films, with Martin Scorsese and Park Chan-wook being his personal favorites. Apart from pursuing a degree in animation, he also possesses a deep fondness for narrative-driven games and is currently a writer at Fandomwire with over 1500 articles.