If Cullen was the one and only person to have ever voiced Optimus, I might consider it, but there have been several others, especially, as the OP points out, Garry Chalk who voiced an Optimus in five series, three of them being Optimus Prime. It wouldn't make sense not to replace someone who has already been successfully replaced in the past.

 

Should Starscream and Cobra Commander have died with Chris Latta? Or Jazz, or Ratchet, or Cliffjumper...

No, of course not. No actor would want that to happen to their characters. Even when Casey Kasem couldn't bring himself to continue being Shaggy without Don Messick as Scooby, he didn't want the characters to die.

--Moony

 

I think as long as the next voice actor is good then it shouldn't be a problem,,,

 

He only did the movie not the show.

 

pre-2007 I could agree with you but now...That's a debatable argument.

 

Why? Movie Optimus is the basic character in everything but personality, and the Prime series has had a cardboard cutout for an Optimus. Cullen did a better job in the games, but those were mediocre and forgettable. Animated's Optimus Prime was the best non-comic incarnation in years, and he was voiced by David Kaye.

The character shouldn't be abandoned just because a chunk of the fandom is hero-worshipping the english voice actor from 4 of 11 major series.

 

To add to the chorus, no. Peter Cullen may be the most popular voice actor for Optimus Prime, but he's not the only one. For seven series, we had someone else. If Mr. Cullen retires or passes on, then we can have someone else again. It's not complicated.

 

Peter Cullen knows how much Optimus Prime means to kids. He certainly wouldn't want the character to end with him.

 

The Prime character should continue but like Starscream,it will never be topped by anyone as no one has surpassed what Latta did with Starscream.

 

Despite the grim nature of the topic, the topic and its title are valid. There are a great number of fans who often wonder at this topic.

Also, please use the TFW2005.COM Tech Support forum and/or the report bad post function for requests of this nature, thanks.

 

Mediocre games ? You can't be serious .

And a chunk of fandom? Most likely 70% of the fandom. Peter isn't the only Optimus, ofc, for my childhood it was Garry Chalk , but Peter is the most iconic voice of Optimus in general, and his work is always fantastic.

No problem with other voice in the future

 

Neil Kaplan or Garry Chalk would be fine.

As for VAs who haven't potrayed Prime, I kinda agree with the overall sentiments on this thread..Clancy Brown would be an interesting addition.

 

Garry chalk is the only one I like after Cullen. His voice feels like an Optimus Prime.

 

Completely serious. I've only played WFC, and I can barely remember it because it was so forgettable compared to every other game I've played since.

 

This is morbid... I think they would just find someone else or try there best to duplicte his voice

 

Anyone say Jon Bailey yet????



Also this thread is a jinx...everyone knock on some wood right now

 

Peter Cullen said himself he's gonna keep doing this until he "ribbits" he said that back in January at a convention.


For those that are saying "others voiced Optimus before" the only reason that happened was because Hasbro and Cullen didn't know how significant his portrayal
was to us fans at the time. The fan demand for him to reprise the role in the movies changed that thinking. I mean didn't Hasbro make a statement that Cullen will voice Prime from now on?

When Cullen passes, I don't think the role will be replaced that fast, their needs to be a hiatus or something to pay respects to the man we all love. It would be big shoes to fill for anyone to succeed him since he is perceived so iconically now.

 

Ok, I wasn't aware of that quote. I haven't seen very many of his convention panels.  

I agree, there should be time to pay respects to Mr. Cullen. However, it might depend too on whether he was in the middle of a project involving Prime and there is a deadline involved. This is not my personal opinion of what should happen, being respectful of someone's passing should always take priority but there are businesses that see holding firm on a deadline more important than being respectful. If that is indeed the case, they might have to revert to another previous VA or someone who can best mimick Mr. Cullen's Optimus voice quickly to meet that deadline. Then afterwards, they can concentrate on finding who will be the new voice of Optimus Prime.

 

As Optimus Prime, Chalk never captured so many elements of what Prime's voice should be. Silky, smooth, compassionate, iconic. I have trouble adequately describing it in words. As a voice actor in general, he's top notch.

 

It'll never happen but Bryan Cranston would make an excellent Optimus IMO.