IGN has posted a short interview with the voice of Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen. There’s some interesting response to the questions asked – Cullen refers to the new Predacon dragon villain, Predaking, as “phenomenal” – along with complements for his fellow cast members including Frank Welker and Steve Blum.
Where it gets interesting is the response to the question “Does this build toward a big finale for the Transformers story?” Peter Cullen replies ‘I don’t think there’s ever going to be a big finale. I think, as all series go, it’s always a transformation – there’s a good word! – into another environment.‘ (He might, of course, be referring to the overall nature of the franchise and how each new series takes its own direction, and not necessarily Transformers Prime specifically)
On the subject of Transformers 4, Peter Cullen does not say much – other than confirming that yes, he will be a part of it and is very much looking forward to his involvement in the production.
Check out the full interview on IGN on the other side of this link.
Roadblock1977
I noticed that Beast Wars alumnus David Kaye voiced Hardshell. Wonder uf fellow Beast Wars alumnus Gary Chalk will voice Predaking.
jettyfire
I would be like Smokescreen, when he first met Optimus Prime. ^_^ Oh to met like Peter Cullen would be the most awesome thing ever. Damn it, why do I have to be so poor. T_T
MindChamber
they were both in development at the same time, Tonka simply rushed theirs out to market first.
VaderPrime1
I want to shake that man's hand so badly.
Scorpio
Technically Gobots did come first… and the Transformers actually stole their idea. It was then a matter of them battling it out and Transformers was more popular due to the 'lore' that they introduced.
[Wing_Saber-X]
Cullen : Legend. Always my hero.
FoC Grimlock
Yeah, Gobots were the true success story. Not this Transformers mess. Transformers is just a fad and will go away pretty soon. Gobots will rule the toy world.
Griffin73
Robots have been a part of science fiction for hundreds of years, way before Gobots were thought of. Transformers just happened to get IT right. With personalities and traits that resonated perfectly at the time. Cullen is right, Transformers sparked the imagination of many. That's why you see reissues of Optimus Prime & Megatron, and none of Leader-1 or Cy-kill.
MindChamber
Im pretty sure he was referring to the writers that fleshed out the Lore and made it so memorable. Not the actual toys.
Plainsjumper
Dead is kinda a harsh word to use dude.
Stygian360
I still think the current Prime iteration is dead and will have a satisfying ending (as we've been promised) by the end of Beast Hunters episode 16. But that this will also naturally lead into the next iteration/phase of Transformers in toon form. Most likely utilizing a new aesthetic for the bot character designs, cast of human characters, and overall direction. If they're smart- no reason to think they aren't- it will align pretty well with whatever direction movie 4 is going in. Just holds with logic that this is what they'll do, since this is also 'pretty much' what they did before Prime was launched.
Paarthurnax
Cullen: Some very brilliant, genius people, years ago, conceived this idea that drilled a great space into youthful imagination and it has stayed alive all these years because it is something that had never been done before…
Yeah, NEVER been done before. That's why I was collecting Gobots before Transformers came along. Because it was never done before the Transformers.
MindChamber
Cullen is lookin real Pimp these days, bless his soul, da dude deserves it
Autovolt 127
I wouldn't mind if it's a sequel series. Honestly with all the time and effort put into the CG models, they can easily re-use them and then focus most of the budget on new enviroments and characters.
Honestly the sequel series could be like Energon is to Armada (but off course better)
Sol Fury
That doesn't really mean anything. All he is really saying is Transformers will always tell another story, going in a different direction. If you look at the question, it is phrased as "is this an ending for Transformers?" rather than "Transformers Prime", which I think shapes his response.
Still worth paying attention to as I'm personally of the view that the next series will be in the same universe, but this isn't the silver bullet sealing that deal IMO.
General Tekno
Odds are him and Welker will be back for the next show if it's a sequel, and they probably know more than they're letting on if a sequel series is already in preproduction.
harrismonkey
Interesting that he doesn't sound like he thinks Prime is exactly ending. Not going to read to deeply into that, but odd.
UltraAlanMagnus
Peter Cullen Talks TF4 & Beast Hunters
Peter Cullen Talks TRANSFORMERS PRIME Finale And Returning For TRANSFORMERS 4
OMEGAPRIME1983
Very nice. Guess that confirms that Prime is back for #4, and I can't wait to see what happens in this season of tfp:bh
ErbFan28
Awesome. I love hearing from the stars of Transformers.