As we all know, Peter Cullen IS Optimus Prime-his care for the character and his magnificent performance brought the Autobot leader to life, cementing Transformers in pop culture history.

However, nothing is forever-eventually, Peter Cullen will not be able to voice Optimus Prime, for whatever reason.

So my question is-who would your choice be for someone else to play Optimus Prime? Not necessarily a replacement-I doubt anyone can BECOME Optimus the way that Peter has-but someone who can at least match the nobility and, dare I say, gravitas of our favorite Autobot leader.

Personally, I'd nominate Bryan Cranston. Never mind the fact that the dude gives his all in even his smallest and shittiest roles (did you know he was in Rock of Ages? No you didn't because no one saw that shit), the dude just has this badass mother fucker vibe about him. He can say a few words and chill your bones. Sean Bean wouldn't be a terrible choice either, especially since him and Optimus both die a whole lot.

 

Garry Chalk.

 

Peter Cullen's ghost.

 

This.

 

Justin Timberlake.

 

I'd be open for Garry Chalk as Ultra Magnus

 

Either of these.

But mainly Gary Chalk. He was in Godzilla! He's still got some youth in him!

 

I'd go with Chalk, since he's also done enough character actor work in front of a camera in addition to his work behind the mike that he'd make a nice holo-avatar for Optimus if they ever bothered to bring that concept back to the Movies.

 

If Cullen were to just lose interest in playing the character or die, I'd say Chalk. But he IS Optimus Prime.

 

You boast a good point. Cullen won't be able to do this forever. Garry Chalk will always be the other Optimus. But it'll hard to find who can give that Optimus feel.

 

I think Chalk is the best second choice after Cullen, but as others have said, Peter Cullen is Optimus Prime.

 

Morgan Freeman  

 

Jake Foushee

 

Neil Kaplan, he did a decent job in RID.

 

I like this one better.

 

Either that, or someone needs to harvest Cullen's vocal-cords and- Hell, just take his whole upper body and hook that fucker up to life-support.

Milk another decade out of him and look into synthesizing it via computer.

 

Seems a little inhumane. At least download his consciousness into a computer or cast an actor who can channel their inner Peter Cullen (I don't mean an impression)

 

Find a good peter cullen impersonator

 

Well that isn't ghoulish or creepy or anything...

Anyway, I think Liam Neeson could do a good job for Movie Optimus.

 

Sorry, we're going with the mutilated upper torso on life-support. Thanks for playing though.