Optimus Primal

The eastern lowland gorilla leader who stands with humans to stop Unicron.

In the 2023 film Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Optimus Primal serves as the leader of the Maximals, a faction that had been hiding on Earth for millennia. Voiced by Ron Perlman, he commands his team with a fierce dedication to protecting humanity and the Autobot cause against the Terrorcons. Unlike previous iterations, this version of Primal is introduced in a 1994 setting where he leads his group after their leader, Apelinq, sacrificed himself to save them from Unicron's herald, Scourge. Primal transforms into an eastern lowland gorilla, a design based on unused concept art originally intended for Transformers: The Last Knight. His role is pivotal as he guides the Autobots and human protagonists through the conflict over the Transwarp Key.

Quick Facts

Role: Commander of the Maximals
Affiliation: Maximals
Alternate mode: Eastern lowland gorilla

Lore & Background

Optimus Primal's origin in this timeline begins before his arrival on Earth, following the destruction of his homeworld by the planet-eating Transformer, Unicron. As Scourge and the Terrorcons hunted them for the Transwarp Key, the previous Maximal leader, Apelinq, sacrificed himself to allow the others to escape the devouring planet. Primal assumed leadership during this exodus, guiding the remaining Maximals to Earth with half of the key split for safety. His backstory is deeply tied to a human tribe he and his forces worked with for thousands of years, entrusting them with the second half of the Transwarp Key to keep it safe from Scourge's reach.

Reader's Guide

Optimus Primal is defined by his willingness to make impossible sacrifices for his allies and the greater good. His leadership style shifts from a guardian of ancient secrets to an active combatant alongside Optimus Prime. Key moments include his decision to kill the corrupted Airazor, demonstrating his tactical ruthlessness when necessary, and his crucial intervention in the final battle where he saves Prime's life. He transforms into an eastern lowland gorilla and leads a team that includes Cheetor, Rhinox, and the fallen Apelinq and Airazor. His alliance with humans is cemented through his centuries-long relationship with the Peruvian tribe who guarded the second half of the Transwarp Key. In the aftermath, he proclaims Earth as the new home for the Maximals alongside the Autobots.

Did You Know?

Optimus Primal's beast mode in the film was based on unused concept art created for Transformers: The Last Knight (2017).
Primal reluctantly kills his own warrior Airazor at her request after she is corrupted by Dark Energon to save Elena Wallace.
In 1994, Primal and his team had been hiding on Earth and working with a human tribe for thousands of years.