Transformers One is the latest film in the popular franchise and the first animated movie since 1986’s The Transformers: The Movie. Transformers One looks to tell the prequel to the main conflict of the series, showcasing how the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons started and, more importantly, how Optimus Prime and Megatron went from being friends to rivals leading warring factions. One important element to every new Transformers entry that every fan always wants to know is what is the roster of characters that will make up the story and, importantly, the toy line.
Since Transformers One is based on a famous toy line celebrating its 40th anniversary, plenty of characters from the franchise’s history round out the cast. It features plenty of future Autobots and Decepticons before they were members of rival factions. In addition, Transformers One boasts an all-star voice cast that mixes blockbuster movie stars, Academy Award nominees, animated movie legends, and character actors. Here is every major Transformers character in Transformers One and who is voicing them.
Warning: Spoilers ahead for Transformers One.
Orion Pax/Optimus Prime
The most iconic character in the Transformers franchise is Optimus Prime. But long before he was the fearless leader of the Autobots, he was Orion Pax. Transformers One begins with Orion Pax as a lowly worker bot, working in the mines of Cybertron to harvest Energon, a departure from most continuity where he is a scholar.
Transformers One will show how the young, reckless, and slightly immature Orion Pax will grow into the famous Optimus Prime and how his best friend, D-16, will eventually become his greatest foe, Megatron. Optimus Prime transforms into a truck, but it is a Cybertronian truck for Transformers One.
Hemsworth Has Some Big Shoes to Fill
Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth, has been cast to voice Orion Pax/Optimus Prime. Hemsworth has some big shoes to fill as he is stepping into the role popularized by the great Peter Cullen, who voiced Optimus Prime in the original Transformers: The Animated Series as well as the 1986 film, all the live-action movies, and the 2010 animated series Transformers: Prime.
Hemsworth is best known for playing Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but other high-profile credits include George Kirk in Star Trek, Tyler Rake in the Extraction movies, and recently played Dementus in Furiosa: Mad Max Fury Road, where he played a villainous vehicle leader. This won’t be Hemsworth’s only dip into the world of Transformers, as he is rumored to be the lead in the upcoming G.I. Joe/Transformers crossover.
D-16/Megatron
Before he was Megatron, the ruthless leader of the Decepticons, he was D-16. D-16 is the best friend of Orion Pax before they become sworn enemies, leading enemy factions. D-16 is loyal to Cybertron, following the rules and believing in Cybertron’s leaders. He idolizes the fallen Prime, Megatronus Prime, from whom he will later draw his name.
D-16’s discovery of dark truths in Cybertron’s past will lead him to become Megatron, rejecting any Prime, including his former best friend. The movie makes a major change to Megatron’s origin as most continuity has him as Cybertron’s gladiator. His being a Cybertron worker alongside Orion Pax highlights exactly the different paths they went on. Megatron turns into a Cybertronian tank.
A New Angle for Megatron
Brian Tyree Henry voices Megatron in Transformers One. Henry’s career took off with the role of Alfred Miles/Paper Boi on the hit FX series Atlanta, and since then has become one of the most in-demand stars working. He has appeared as Phastos in Eternals, Bernie Hayes in both Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla X: Kong: The New Empire, and an Academy Award-nominated performance in Causeway. Henry also voices Jefferson Morales in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
While Frank Welker is best associated with Megatron, giving him a gravelly villain persona, Henry looks to sell a more youthful but still powerful take on the famous Transformers villain.
Elita-1
While most continuity depicts Elita-1 as a romantic partner for Optimus Prime, Transformers One depicts Elita as the supervisor of Orion Pax and D-16 in the mines, who finds herself drawn into their adventure to the surface of Cybertron. She is confident, a leader, and more sure of herself and situations than Orion, D-16, or B-127. The film will show how Elita-1 becomes one of Optimus Prime’s early allies and a trusty leader of the Autobots. Elita-1 turns into a Cybertonian motorcycle.
A No-Nonsense Voice
Scarlett Johansson voices Elita-1. Johnasson is most famous for playing Black Widow in the MCU, making her the third major MCU actor in Transformers One alongside Hemsworth and Henry. Johannson’s voice work includes Mindy in The Spongebob Squarepants Movie, Samantha in Her, Kaa in The Jungle Book, and Ash in both Sing and Sing 2.
Johannson is one of the biggest stars in the world, having appeared in critically acclaimed films like Lost in Translation, Ghost World, and Aestroid City. In 2019, she was nominated for two separate Academy Awards; Best Actress in Marriage Story and Best Supporting Actress in Jojo Rabbit. Transformers One is her second film of 2024, following Fly Me to the Moon.
Bumblebee
Bumblebee is most famous as the Autobot who can’t speak as his vocal chords were damaged in battle, a character trait introduced in the 2007 Transformers film that has carried over into subsequent adaptations.
In Transformers One, audiences will see that before Bumblebee, originally B-127, lost his voice to speak, he was a very talkative robot. B-127 is young, has a lot of energy and wants to go by the name “Badassatron,” a far cry from the cute name he will eventually adopt. B-127 transforms into a yellow alien car, one that resembles the Camero form he adopts on Earth in the live-action movies.
Motor Mouth for Someone Who Won’t Be Able to Speak With Their Mouth
Keegan Michael Key lends his voice to Bumblebee. Best known for his part in the comedic duo Key & Peele, he is no stranger to voice work. He previously voiced Murray the Mummy in Hotel Transylvania 2, 3, and Transformania. In 2019, he pulled double duty of Disney voicing Ducky in Toy Story 4 and the hyena Kamari in The Lion King. He recently voiced Toad in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Keegan Micahel Key has also appeared in films Don’t Think Twice, The Predator, and Wonka.
Starscream
Starscream is the second most famous Decepticon. Typically depicted as Megatron’s second-in-command, Starscream is constantly trying to betray Megatron and take control of the Decepticons from him. The movie establishes the origin of Starscream and Megatron’s dynamic, particularly how Megatron took command of the Cybertron Kings Guard from Starscream, who the film trailer shows sitting on a throne flanked by other famous Decepticons, Soundwave, and Shockwave. Starscream’s signature form is a jet.
The Perfect Voice for Starscream
Steve Buscemi voices Starscream in a casting decision that makes one wonder why Michael Bay didn’t cast Buschemi to voice Starscream in his live-action Transformers film instead of using him for a bit part as a Junk Trading Transformer in Transformers: The Last Knight.
Buscemi is one of the most acclaimed and respected character actors in the world, having played roles in iconic films like Reservoir Dogs, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, and Ghost World alongside Transformers One star Scarlett Johansson. He was the lead on the hit HBO series Boardwalk Empire. Buscemi’s distinct voice has made him a go-to for many films, including Randall in Monsters Inc. and Monsters University and Wayne the werewolf in the Hotel Transylvania movies.
Alpha Trion
Alpha Trion is one of the thirteen Primes, the original leaders of the planet Cybertron. Orion Pax, D-16, B-127, and Elita-1 find Alpha Trion, who, when he is reactivated, tells them about the lost Transformers history that has been kept from them. He also gives them the ability to Transform by taking the sparks of his fellow Primes and giving them to the new heroes, hoping they will bring peace back to Cybertron.
A Legendary Voice for a Transformers Icon
Laurence Fishburne voices Alpha Trion. Fishburne’s most famous role is Morpheus in The Matrix trilogy, but even before then, he made a name for himself as Cowboy Curtis on Pee Wee’s Playhouse and films like Boyz N the Hood, What’s Love Got to Do with It and Othello. Since The Matrix, he has also appeared in the John Wick film series as well as Man of Steel and Ant-Man and the Wasp.
Due to Fishburne’s commanding voice, he is a favorite for voice roles, including the narrator in TMNT, The Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and the villain Thrax in Osmoso Jones.
Sentinel Prime
Sentinel Prime is the leader of Cybertron, a seemingly benevolent ruler who hides a dark secret. Audiences who remember Sentinel Prime from Transformers: Dark of the Moon will recall that Sentinel Prime is secretly a villain who betrays the heroes, and given how much the design of Transformers One pulls from that film, it is safe to say that Sentinel Prime is not to be trusted.
Despite being a major part of the cast, Sentinel Prime has largely been absent in the marketing, as it mainly focuses on Optimus Prime and Megatron going from friend to foe. Sentinel Prime might be the figure who drives them apart.
Jon Hamm Voices the Leader of Cybertron
Mad Men star Jon Hamm voices Sentinel Prime. While Hamm is best known for playing Don Draper on the hit AMC series, he has built up an impressive career in films like Bridesmaids, Baby Driver, The Town, and Top Gun: Maverick. He has also kept himself a presence on television, appearing on The Morning Show, Good Omens, and Fargo. He previously lent his voice to Shrek Forever After and Minions and will next be heard in the Pixar film Hoopers.
Darkwing & Airachnid
Two prominent Transformers featured in Transformers One are Darkwing and Airachnid. Darkwing appears to be a bully to Orion Pax and D-16, as he throws them into the same hidden sublevel as B-127, and Optimus Prime tries to flip him off in the movie trailer. Darkwing is typically depicted as a Decepticon, so there is a chance he could join Megatron’s forces by the end of the film. Darkwing turns into a Cybertonian jet.
Despite largely being absent from the trailer, Airachnid is one of the main villains in Transformers One as the main enforcer for Sentinel Prime. Airachnid is defined by her multiple legs, and her alternate form for the film is a Cybertron drone attack helicopter. She is a relatively new character in the franchise, introduced in the 2010 animated series Transformers: Prime.
Rounding Out the Cast With Some Lesser Known But Equally Talented Names
Accomplished character actor Isaac C. Singleton voices Darkwing. Singleton is best known for voicing Thanos in Marvel Animated series like Avengers Assembled and video games like Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite and Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order. He has also appeared in films like Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl and Deadpool. Vanessa Liguori voices Airachnid, an actress with limited credits including two episodes of The Sopranoes.
