Optimus Primal’s Transformers Franchise Future Addressed By Rise Of The Beasts Star

As the franchise eyes multiple new directions to proceed, Ron Perlman opens up about the future for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts‘ Optimus Primal. Perlman debuted as the leader of the Maximal race of Transformers in the 2023 movie, which was the second in the prequel timeline following Bumblebee and saw the Autobots teaming with the Maximals to prevent the villainous Terrorcons from getting their hands on a key that can open a wormhole for Unicron to destroy Earth. Though underperforming critically and commercially, Paramount is moving forward with multiple new Transformers movies, including a sequel to Rise of the Beasts.

During a recent interview with Screen Rant to discuss his new horror-thriller Succubus, Perlman was asked if there had been conversations for him to reprise his role as Optimus Primal in the Transformers franchise. The Rise of the Beasts star affirmed he hasn’t “heard a word“, recalling the trajectory of the 2023 movie having changed during production, resulting in his curiosity about whether he’d be back:

I haven’t heard a word. While we were making the movie, we all knew that we were part of a storied franchise, and wondered whether we were going to — there was a bit of a departure in this particular one, and went in a couple of different directions. We all wondered whether that was going to parlay itself into some future visitation. But, no, I can’t make any news with you today.

Despite being unable to “make any news with you today“, Perlman did express an openness to reprising his role in a future Transformers movie, recalling the enjoyment he got from playing the leader of the Maximals in the most recent franchise installment:

I dug being the gorilla with the green eyes. If I have to go be him again, I would definitely run that walk.

What This Means For Optimus Primal’s Transformers Future

There’s Still Plenty Of Room For Perlman To Return

The fact Perlman hasn’t heard word about Optimus Primal’s potential return to the Transformers franchise may not come as much of a surprise, given Paramount and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura are still gathering their plans for the franchise’s future. At the time of writing, there are two more confirmed Transformers movies to be in the works, the first of which is a live-action spinoff from Blue Beetle director Ángel Manuel Soto, and the other being a Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover movie, while others remain in unclear states of development. See below a chart of the previously reported movies coming up in the franchise:

With so many options for Perlman to return, though, the door is certainly wide open for more Optimus Primal in the Transformers franchise. The character did, ultimately, survive Rise of the Beasts‘ ending fight against the Terrorcons, and with two direct sequels expected to be in the works for the 2023 movie, his and the other Maximals’ appearances seem likely in these follow-ups, particularly as they can help explain why they’re not mentioned in Michael Bay’s original series of movies.

Our Take On Optimus Primal’s Transformers Future

He Shouldn’t Be Limited To Rise Of The Beasts Sequels

While the Rise of the Beasts sequels seem the most likely spot for their returns, there are a wealth of other options for the Maximals’ future in the Transformers franchise I think would be just as exciting to see. One of the best options for them is to get a solo movie exploring their early years on Earth, as it’s mentioned in the 2023 movie that they have been in hiding on the planet for millennia. Though their primary reason for hiding was to protect the Transwarp Key from the Terrorcons, I think it would be interesting to see if their interactions with early humanity also partially led to their hiding.

The other best option for the Maximals’ future after Transformers: Rise of the Beasts would be a crossover with the new Transformers One franchise. The characters were first introduced in the child-oriented Beast Wars toylines and shows, and as such are perfect to be included in the animated prequel storyline should di Bonaventura and director Josh Cooley’s plans for a trilogy come to fruition. Given Transformers One is also now the best-reviewed installment in the franchise, it will now come down to its box office performance on whether these sequels will happen.