The cast of Transformers: Age Of Extinction received a bit more star power with the news that actors John Goodman and Ken Watanabe will be voicing two fan-favorite robots joining the ranks of Michael Bay’s live-action Transformers franchise.
Both actors will voice members of the Autobots — the heroes of the Transformers universe — with The Big Lebowski actor Goodman voicing Hound (a robot that typically transforms into a Jeep), and Oscar-nominated The Last Samurai actor Watanabe voicing Drift (traditionally, a high-end sports car in his vehicle mode). Both characters will make their live-action debut in Age Of Extinction, which hits theaters June 27.
The pair join previously announced voice actors Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime, John DiMaggio as Crosshairs, Mark Ryan as Lockdown, Robert Foxworth as Ratchet, and Reno Wilson as Brains, as well as Frank Welker as Galvatron, who voiced multiple characters in previous installments of the franchise (and throughout most of the Transformers animated series and games) and now seems likely to voice the primary villain of Age Of Extinction.
“I am pleased to welcome two gifted and versatile actors, John Goodman and Ken Watanabe, to the world of Transformers,” wrote Bay in the casting announcement that appeared on his official website. “And to re-team with Peter and Frank, who have brought Transformers characters alive from the beginning. I’ve been fortunate to work with some of the best voice talent in the business, and together we will introduce several exciting new robots to fans of the franchise around the world.”
In addition to the film’s voice actors, the “human” cast of characters in the film includes Mark Wahlberg, Jack Reynor, Nicola Peltz, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Li Bingbing, and Titus Welliver.
Transformers: Age Of Extinction hits theaters June 27.
