The first trailer for Amazon’s animated series Invincible Season 2 certainly came with a banger as it introduced many new actors as voice cast. But what stood out for longtime animation fans was Peter Cullen’s appearance in the show, who is best known as the voice of Autobot leader Optimus Prime in the Transformers franchise going back to 1984.
Robert Kirkman, creator of the Invincible comics, got hailed for bringing in fan-favorite Peter Cullen in season 2. Although the legendary voice actor had a brief appearance from episode 3 to episode 5, fans appreciated Cullen’s involvement in the series. Meanwhile, recently, Invincible sparked headlines for giving credit to the actor’s legendary Optimus Prime scene, via X, which they previously missed out on in episode 5.
Peter Cullen Joined Invincible – Who is He Playing in the Show?
Following the success of the highly appreciated Invincible S1, creator Robert Kirkman came up with another season split into two halves. With the first half containing four episodes already airing on Prime Video, fans recently received the 5th episode on March 14, 2024. Meanwhile, as fans await the next episode to release on 21st March, they began appreciating Kirkman for bringing in legendary voice actor Peter Cullen.
Famously known for his voice as the Autobot leader Optimus Prime in the Transformers franchise, Peter Cullen is considered an icon for longtime animation fans. Eventually, as he made his debut in the third episode of Invincible S2, fans lost their minds. With S2 third episode taking viewers to Talescria, home to the Coalition of Planets and Allen the Alien (Seth Rogen), it introduced the legendary voice actor as the head of the Coalition, the Great Thaedus.
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Changing the course of the show with one key element in episode 3, that was never mentioned in the comics, as Invincible showed Thaedus turning off Allen’s life support, it led many viewers to suspect that Peter Cullen is indeed the mole, who is mentioned in the comics. However, this very doubt finally gets solved in the recently released episode 5, where Thaedus revealed that he didn’t turn off Allen’s life support to kill him, but rather to spark an evolutionary leap and turn Allen’s genetically enhanced body even stronger.
While fans previously believed Peter Cullen’s Thaedus was the mole transmitting information to Viltrum, S2 episode 5, finally clarified that the Coalition leader meant no harm to Allen, instead, he wanted Allen to level up his strength in order to be able to battle the Viltrumites.
Invincible Credited Peter Cullen’s Legendary Optimus Prime Scene
As episode 5 of Invincible S2 dropped this iconic revelation about the Coalition leader Thaedus (Peter Cullen), fans breathed a sigh of relief, for the character’s actions in episode 3 came as a sheer horror to comic fans. While both the Invincible TV series and the comic hinted at a mole in the Coalition who was transmitting information to Viltrum, audiences almost started believing that it was indeed Thaedus.
But hold on, the revelation doesn’t stop here as Peter Cullen’s Thaedus later pulls off his beard to reveal that he is secretly a Viltrumite. Giving a brief backstory, the character reveals that he was the first Viltrumite to rebel against the Empire. Being a Viltrumite who also started the Coalition of Planets is something that fans never knew was possible in Invincible. But later on, Thaedus proves to be the ultimatum when he recruits Allen to go back to Earth and bring Invincible to the Coalition, since only Mark (Steven Yeun) could stop Viltrum.
As these constant turns of events surrounding Peter Cullen’s character make fans lose their minds to figure out whether he’s the good guy or the mole, Invincible gives a deserving ovation to the actor via X. Although they missed out on the opportunity during episode 5, the show took to its social media and not only appreciated the actor’s performance as Coalition leader but also credited his iconic Optimus Prime scene.
Coalition, we are here. We are waiting.
*What I’ve Done by Linkin Park starts playing over credits* pic.twitter.com/gnwkLgNgjf
— INVINCIBLE (@InvincibleHQ) March 18, 2024
“I am Optimus Prime, and I send this message to any surviving Autobots taking refuge among the stars. We are here. We are waiting.” Cullen’s dialogue from Transformers (2007)
Addressing this particular dialogue and scene from the movie, followed by Linkin Park’s What I’ve Done playing over the credits, Invincible lauded Peter Cullen’s iconic Optimus Prime scene.
Invincible is available on Prime Video.
