Fathom Entertainment (formerly Fathom Events) and Hasbro revealed on Tuesday the poster, cast, staff, and more screening regions for the new 12-minute "Optimus Prime: Awakening" animated short, which will play with select anniversary screenings of their upcoming 4K re-release of The Transformers: The Movie in theaters.
The late Peter Cullen stars as Optimus Prime in his final performance. Frank Welker stars as Megatron/Soundwave.
Josh Wassung is directing the film based on a script by Ryan Parrott. Bobby Krlic is composing the music and The Third Floor is animating the film.
The film will open in theaters on September 17 in France, Singapore, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, and Peru, in addition to the previously announced regions of the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and Germany.
The 4K re-release of The Transformers: The Movie will feature extra footage in the form of a never-before-seen "cinematic chapter" that will screen after credits.
Fathom Entertainment describes the film:
For millennia, the heroic Autobots, led by Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen), have been at war with the evil Decepticons, led by Megatron (Frank Welker). As the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons rages on Earth, an even greater threat looms. Unicron (Orson Welles, Citizen Kane), a colossal converting planet who consumes everything in his path, is heading for Cybertron to devour the Transformers homeworld and wipe the Autobots and Decepticons from existence. The only hope is the Autobot Matrix of Leadership. With new enemies hunting them down and dangers lurking in every corner of the galaxy, the Autobots take on a perilous mission to save their planet that will alter their destiny forever.
Some theaters in the U.S. will feature collectible popcorn buckets and drinkware.
The companies previously re-released the film in U.S. theaters in September 2021 for the 35th anniversary of the franchise. Shout! Factory released a 35th anniversary steelbook limited edition for the film in August 2021. The release featured the film on 4K UHD for the first time, with a brand-new 4K transfer of the original 35mm film.
Toei Animation animated the 1986 film as a sequel to the first animated television seasons of The Transformers. The animated series is based on Hasbro's toy line, which itself imported toys from Takara's Diaclone and Microman toy lines, among others.
Optimus Prime's voice actor Cullen died on August 26 at his home in Los Angeles, according to his agent. He was 85.