First 'Optimus Prime: Awakening' Action Figure Revealed: Decepticon Bumblebee

Transformers fans who attended last weekend's 40th anniversary screenings of Transformers: The Movie were treated to a special surprise: an all-new animated short, Optimus Prime: Awakening, in which the dying Autobot hero is confronted with dark visions of friends and foes. Now, one of its most striking characters is coming home: Collider is proud to exclusively reveal the new Studio Series Optimus Prime: Awakening Bumblebee action figure.

In Transformers: The Movie, Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) falls in a final battle with his arch-foe, Megatron (Frank Welker). While the movie's surviving characters have little time to mourn before another galactic menace arises, Optimus Prime: Awakening sees the Autobot legend's spirit commune with The One, an ancient and mysterious entity. The One hurls him into another battle with the Decepticons, but as he fights his way through those familiar fiends, he's confronted with one more: Bumblebee. Once one of his most stalwart soldiers, Bumblebee has become disillusioned by the unending war and has switched sides.

Now, Hasbro has unveiled a new figure based on this dark incarnation of the once-cheery hero. A Deluxe-sized figure, Bumblebee transforms from car to robot in 29 steps and comes with Megatron's fusion cannon, which can be attached to either mode. He's fully poseable and features all sorts of screen-accurate detail, from the faded Autobot symbol on his chest to his sinister head sculpt. He'll retail for $29.99 USD and can be preordered today, September 22, starting at 1 p.m. EST, from Hasbro Pulse and all other major online retailers. He'll arrive on shelves next fall.

Who Created 'Optimus Prime: Awakening'?

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Optimus Prime: Awakening was directed by Joshua Wassung (Predator: Killer of Killers) and written by Ryan Parrott (Twisted Metal). It was animated by The Third Floor and features music by Bobby Krlic (Midsommar). It unexpectedly became the final act for veteran voice actor Cullen, who originated the character of Optimus Prime in 1984; Cullen died at age 85 last month. It reunites him with longtime friend, colleague, and co-star Welker, and also features the voices of Simon Henderson, Mathieu Bourassa, Scott Law, Gray Powell, and Jaret LeMaster.