The Transformers film that left a lasting impact on fans is returning to theaters.

Forty years ago, Hasbro received a crucial warning. Now, they’re taking Transformers: The Movie on an “Apology Tour” to theaters near you.

Back in the mid-1980s, as Hasbro aimed to transform its hit TV series and toy phenomenon, Transformers, into a major animated film, the screenwriter they hired had a significant concern.

“I warned them,” Ron Friedman shared during an interview in 2021. “I told Hasbro, ‘You can’t kill Optimus Prime,’ because he was the cornerstone of the story. He was like Odin or Zeus; taking him out would shatter the whole narrative.”

Despite his warnings, Hasbro was determined. By 1986, they had sold out of Optimus Prime toys after two seasons of the Saturday morning cartoon, necessitating a new leader and a new toy. For Transformers: The Movie, they even gave Optimus’ successor a name that echoed his own: Rodimus Prime.

“My goal with Rodimus Prime was to create a character interesting enough that audiences wouldn’t revolt in the theater, attacking ushers or setting fire to the box office,” Friedman explained.

In that respect, Friedman had limited success. The film originally opened with Optimus’ death, but he persuaded Hasbro to delay it for more emotional weight. He crafted a poignant scene where Optimus fades from his vibrant red and blue to a dull gray, marking his demise.

Still, Transformers: The Movie left many fans heartbroken by killing off Optimus Prime in the first act. “Kids were crying in the theaters,” story consultant Flint Dille recalled during a commentary. “We heard about people walking out. We received a lot of angry letters.”

Over the years, Transformers: The Movie has undergone a reevaluation. Fans now celebrate it as a stunning example of 2D animation that’s rare today. Personally, I believe that the very thing that upset fans—Optimus’ death—might actually be its strongest element, showcasing how much audiences cared about the Autobot leader, especially in a franchise where many characters were often disposable.

Even Friedman, who contributed to the early episodes of the Transformers cartoon, acknowledged, “There were so many characters in that show that it was hard to get to know them.”

In the later years of his life, Friedman embraced the legacy of that moment, even titling his memoir I Killed Optimus Prime. At conventions and interviews, he relished sharing the story: “I’ve heard it a hundred times. People come up to me and say, ‘You son of a bitch. I was seven years old when I saw the Transformers movie, and you killed Optimus Prime!’ Then they ask, ‘Will you sign my underwear?’”

This complex legacy is why, for the film’s 40th anniversary, Hasbro has partnered with Fathom for an “Apology Tour” re-release starting on September 17. They even created a new poster featuring the iconic moment of Optimus Prime’s death.

It’s the kind of tribute I think Ron would have appreciated, even though he’s now in the same place he sent Optimus Prime four decades ago.

From Transformers: The Movie to Rise of the Beasts, the trend of killing off Autobots continues. Do they care? Should we?