Collider has just broken the news that Ron Perlman will be the one voicing Optimus Primal in the upcoming Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Perlman previously voiced Optimus Primal in Machinima’s Power of the Primes series.
Let us know your thoughts after the break!
FORT MAXie
Rise of the beasts makes WTC look good unless you like lectures.
BladeXDriver
In my case I just want the guy to be acknowledge that he is exist and not hasbro to think Ron was always primal even in the 96 versions which isn’t true I don’t want to believe chalk was passed up due to misunderstanding on who voice primal back in the original beast wars because I’m starting to wonder if that is the case.
Shadow25
I think two things can be true:
1. Garry Chalk was a mainstay of the Transformers franchise for around a decade whether it was voicing Optimus Primal or Optimus Prime, and it's unfortunate that he apparently was not seriously considered to return for this film.
2. Ron Perlman is a talented voice performer in his own right with a long list of credits to his name, and there is no reason to think he won't do a (at the very least) good job voicing Primal in this film.
Heck, Chalk was my Optimus Prime growing up (Unicron Trilogy), and hearing Peter Cullen in the first movie was confusing to me as a kid who never knew G1. His counterpart David Kaye continued to find new fans in the franchise with his role in Animated (and other stuff like TFP), whereas Chalk never really 'returned' in any capacity, despite actually holding the role of Optimus Prime/Primal for longer than Peter Cullen prior to 2007. I do wish he'd have been shown some more respect overall by the franchise (not just with the Rise of the Beasts film, but stuff like the TF Hall of Fame, the POTP series and the Kingdom Netflix series).
Rojixus
When it comes to corporate suits, the cynical interpretation is often the correct one.
Seanprime
So Chalk said he wasn’t asked, so then you want a fake answer then? Lol you want them to say we asked him even though they didn’t? Is that correct? Also none of us know the actual reason do we? I’m assuming the last part of your comment was speculation or is there actual solid info out there
BladeXDriver
Someone already beat me to the punch but yeah what they said
Nova Maximus
"We asked Garry Chalk if he wished to reprise the role of Optimus Primal but due to "X reason" he unfortunately declined" or "We wanted to ask Garry Chalk if he wanted to come on board for the movie but because of "these X reasons" we were unable to".
Basically that they at least asked or even attempted to ask and not the actually reason of "We wanted a big name on the poster as well as the studio considered getting Chalk over would be too much effort".
Seanprime
So humor me then,(I would’ve loved chalk as primal too) what answer could Steven Cable Jr give that would make you “accept it” ?
BladeXDriver
Sorry but until Steven cable jr address it non us are just gonna blindly accept it this is why interviews are important.
SPLIT LIP
"Whoa man relax it's just a joke put the gun down alright let's hash this out at least let the children leave…"
Seanprime
Ahh I knew someone would take offense, it’s a light hearted joke relax, argue away. Figured the Perlman thing was beating a dead horse at this point
SPLIT LIP
Transformers fans discussing Transformers on a Transformers discussion fansite.
I, personally, I'm floored.
Seanprime
Y’all still arguing about Perlman being Primal? I would say I’m surprised but not on this website lol
MagnusPrimal
And yet, people will still think of RDJ when they think of Tony Stark.
Wreckneck
Or just a trailer period.
SPLIT LIP
Did you not read what people actually said? That's also not at all "everyone is an idiot except for me."
What people are actually saying is that they looked at the past actors who played the character, saw that Perlman was among them, and chose him for marketing reasons because he's the bigger name rather than giving Chalk the same respect as Cullen.
That would be fucking rad, too.
octobotimus
We all know the reason. Because he is a big marketable name they can slap onto posters and trailers.
Rojixus
If it was really a love letter to the 90's, Optimus Prime would look like Laser Optimus or Hero Optimus. At this rate, we'll be lucky if he has a black trailer!
Hoffman
Oh, I dunno…the "they just looked at a list of past actors and picked one" argument?
Did anybody stop and think that maybe there are reasons Perlman was cast?