Transformers: Ron Perlman joins Rise of the Beasts cast as Optimus Primal

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Do you hear that? It's the sound of Transformers fans beating their chests in celebration after learning that Ron Perlman is joining the cast of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. According to Collider, Perlman will voice Optimus Primal, leader of the Manimals, for the upcoming film. Previously, Perlman voiced the character in the animated series Transformers: Power of the Primes. Optimus Primal is the captain of the spaceship Axalon. In battle, he's known as a fierce warrior and someone who is respectful to his enemies. However, if you cross him or his fellow machines, he will not hesitate to reduce you to anything but nuts and bolts.

The new Transformers film will be set in 1994 and feature locations ranging from Brooklyn, New York, to Machu Pichu. It's based on the Beast Wars storyline and will feature a clash between different tribes of alien robots. “In their disguise, they [take on] animal form,” said Steven Caple Jr. at a recent panel for the upcoming film. “So…in our film, they’re these prehistoric animals that travel through time and space, and we find them here on Earth.” In the film, the Manimals will engage in an epic battle with the natural enemies, the Predacons.

“The Predacons in our film are more reptilian in nature. We’ve seen a few in other Transformers films, but [in the new film], we get to see another side of them,” said Caple. “It’s all about building a backstory to these characters, and we’ll see that more on the Predacon and Terracon side.”

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will star Anthony Ramos (In the Heights) and Dominique Fishback (Judas and the Black Messiah). Caple Jr. is directing from a script penned by Darnell Metayer and Josh Peters, who will work from a draft written by Joby Harold.

For more details about the upcoming film, be sure to check out our coverage from the Paramount Pictures event earlier this month.