It seems that some fans have forgotten that voice actors, including Peter Cullen, had to audition for the role and then there would have been a selection process - just like with any other job. Cullen himself has said that he did audition for the role and that it wasn't given to him on a platter just because he was the G1 voice. And Bay said that he didn't select Cullen based on that either, it's just that he felt that Cullen's voice was perfect for Optimus Prime in the movie - i.e.: according to Bay and Cullen, Cullen got the role as Prime based on his own merit and not because of his status as "G1 Optimus Prime." As a professional Cullen has stated that he knows the role could've gone to anyone who was qualified to do it.

Quote Originally Posted by Robzy
I'll never truly understand why people say Weaving was perfect and Welker just could not do the voice! Please don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Hugo fan! But puh-lease let's be honest... his voice was so digitally altered and had so many effects added that it was not recognisable at all.

Seriously, what is the point of casting a man who has such a tremendous voice and then altering it so much that it doesn't sound like him? Anybody (even Welker - *gasp*) could have done that! Hell, they could have got a child to read the lines and just changed the pitch of the voice to sound deeper (I would rather hear Weaving's voice, not an over-processed version of it).
Whether you prefer Welker or Weaving is pretty subjective and is up to each fan's personal opinion... I personally prefer Weaving. But I disagree that "anyone" or even a child could've played Megatron. Yes, the voice is heavily digitised, but it still requires a level of acting skill to put in emotion, cadence etc. to bring the character to life. TF voices were heavily digitised in G1 too (especially Soundwave).

Quote Originally Posted by i_amtrunks
Can anyone honestly say that they are surprised that Megatron is in the film? Hasbro have made at least three toys for him, doubt they would do that for a non-appearing character...
Not surprised, but disappointed. I always knew that Megatron would come back, but I was hoping that they would hold it off for the third film. Have someone else in charge for the second film and build toward Megatron's return toward the end of it. I was also hoping that Megatron would return as Galvatron (even if only by name).

Still could happen though - just because the toy's called Megatron doesn't mean that the character will be. Look at Brawlastator. Yeah, I'm giving Bay way too much credit aren't I?