They already did in the fourth episode of beast hunters, Optimus is talking about a new Prime Rising. Then cut to Ultra Magnus fighting Megatron, Megatron defeats Ultra Magnus. "Your no Optimus Prime"

The transition is written to imply it. Or at least to entertain the notion in the viewers head Ultra magnus is the next prime, only to shoot that down. The forge could just be there for the Wreckers symbolism being a big hammer.
The toy may be referenceing something from later on in the series. Something that could very nicely tie all the "what it means to be a Prime" message together at last. It will certainly be interesting going forward to have Ultra Magnus not being the leader, and how much Authority Prime is going to let him have over our casual bots. No doubt Ultra Magnus is going to make more characters uncomfortable with his protocol than just Wheeljack.

Also I kind of think a lost light reference could come out in conversation between Ultra magnus and other characters. Golden Opportunity.

 

Beast Hunters Magnus isn't really all that accurate either. Plus his size is going to screw over a lot of displays, if you're into that like I am. Closest they got to his shoulders was on the Platinum edition (remold of the Weaponizer Optimus) and that is....unmentionable for many reasons.

 

I think BH UM is a little bit more show accurate just because his show model is a reworked show model of Prime, so it would make sense for his toy to be a retool as well. I own the PRID magnus and will be getting the BH version as well, because they both have their positives and negatives.

 

It's one of the things that I don't really like about Prime Ultra Magnus; they made him an authority freak and weak. G1 Ultra Magnus was kind and passionate plus he can fight evenly and sometimes overpower Galvatron. At the end of the recent BH episode he patted Bulkhead on the shoulder which may imply he will warm up to the others but that's just my guess. I certainly hope that what they'll do.

 

Hm, I really love the PRID robot mode design a lot which I ended up picking 2 of him. It's unfortunate that the paint app was such a let down when compare to the stock photo. Somehow in my delusion mind, I'm still thinking the PRID version will be his earth mode after he scan for one.

With that out the way, I also love the BH version as well. I will be picking both the BH version and the Platinum edition. Between the 2 versions, the BH version is a lot more show accurate than the PRID. My wishlist right now is for Hasbro/TTomy to make a Cyberverse BH UM figure riding his space just like WJ/Starhammer boxset.

 

i really LOVE the PRID version because since the movies i have thought that semi-truck tow trucks would be great for magnus




and when i saw the alt mode of PRID i nearly died of happyness XD



just point his gun in the opposite direction and THAT is what this figure is (just needs a tow hook coming from the barrel of the gun)



while he is not a car "hauler" he is still somewhat related (towtruck) and he still is simmilar to optimus being a truck, but still different enough to be his own character (G1 magnus looked nothing like prime in robot mode)


when i saw



i sighed... and frowned.... another (nearly) Optimus re-paint..... real original.....
i do like it... but its far too close to optimus.
and NOW in the show BH prime towers over magnus....
prime in a non-combined mode should not be taller than optimus....




personally i hope the show version of magnus is before getting a earth mode, and when getting a earth mode is his RID figure... however i suppose with TFP ending that wont happen...

EDIT:

i noticed he pat bulkhead too.  
i hope that Magnus just needs time to settle in, especially now that Optimus has taken over as leader again

 

At least he's not Robots in Disguise(show not Prime toy line) Magnus. XD

 

I think everyone's overthinking the whole "packaged with forge of solus prime symbolism". I really don't think there's any hidden meaning. The toy designers just needed to give him a weapon and they saw the Forge on the show and decided to give us a toy version of the forge. That it is packaged with UM has no meaning beyond that.

 

That's what we thought about the Shadow Strike Bumblebee. That it was a pointless repaint so it became a shelf warmer. And now in BH it became the new show accurate version.  

 

I'd really just like to see BH Magnus lined up with a few CHUG toys, e.g., Prime, some car bots, etc...

 

...
But that's the new Prime. And he's giant, and he's awesome, and giant is awesome.
Why can't Prime be bigger than himself?

 

I have both. I love both. I hate it.

I wish the BH figure came with a bunch of guns instead of the hammer (although I like the hammer for Optimus).