Transformers Characters Then and Now

In the upcoming 2007 Transformers film, Optimus Prime will be present as Autobot leader. Prime now transforms into a conventional Peterbilt cab (akin to his Laser Rod incarnation), rather than cab over design of his original Generation 1 body. In a move that has proven rather controversial among some fans, Prime's vehicle mode is now decorated with red flames painted onto a blue body, apparently as a means of incorporating both his classic colors while retaining a realistic color layout to the truck mode.

Although heavily redesigned like the other characters in the film, some classic design elements remain in his robot mode, including a predominantly red torso, primarily blue legs, the presence of windows in his chest, air filters on his shoulders, and a head design influenced by the original, featuring the iconic faceplate and antennae. An internet leaked unfinished television advertisment shows that the faceplate retracts to expose a mouth when Prime speaks. It was publicly announced at San Diego ComicCon 06 that original Optimus Prime voice actor Peter Cullen will return to the role for the film.

The apparent explanation for the departure from his gun form is that director Michael Bay does not want to include any sort of size changing in the transformations, with the writers describing it as cheating. The Sector 7 website, part of the Transformers movie advertising campaign, released an email on March 23 that indicates that actor Hugo Weaving has been cast as the voice of Megatron.

He appears very bio-mechanical. Nonetheless, he is still silver, has a helmet, heavily built shoulders and large legs, characteristics that some might say faintly mirror the G1 look. Producer Don Murphy noted in a recent interview that Megatron's head design has been changed, [8] and recently leaked images of Megatron's "Battle Mode" shows him to have a helmet, as the G1 Megatron did: likewise, recently leaked concept art proves that one of Megatron's arms does indeed turn into a cannon, helping keep some semblance to his original G1 form [9]. It is also revealed in the recent third trailer that Megatron has his flail, as seen in the G1 cartoon.
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