Christian Actor Known for Playing Villains Voices Bumblebee in New Transformers Short

Christian actor, writer, and former worship leader Jarret LeMaster, known for playing roles such as Satan, Adolf Hitler, and Judas Iscariot, is now lending his voice to Bumblebee in "Optimus Prime: Awakening." This animated short accompanies the 40th anniversary theatrical re-release of "The Transformers: The Movie."

LeMaster told Fox News Digital that playing villains aligns with his personal boundaries, stating, "I don't wanna kiss anybody, and so playing bad guys makes a lot of sense for me. They never kiss anybody, you know, they just murder them." He humorously added that this preference also works for his family, allowing his children to look up to him as a "great villain."

LeMaster's career path took an unexpected turn when he was asked to play a Russian murderer in a sketch for the Christian satire outlet The Babylon Bee. "We need a Russian murderer. You kind of look like that," he recalled being told. At the time, he was working full-time at his church and with The Babylon Bee, initially unaware of the outlet's California base.

He noted that while some of his roles, like "Woke Jesus," the devil, or Adolf Hitler, have drawn criticism or offense, the Bumblebee role has been met with enthusiasm. "The one that is not offensive is Bumblebee. People are very excited about that for some reason," LeMaster said.

His latest role in "Optimus Prime: Awakening" features LeMaster as Bumblebee, alongside Frank Welker as Megatron and Soundwave, and the late Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime. The short is part of a rerelease that has seen success at the box office. LeMaster initially underestimated the project, believing it to be a small film by a friend, until he learned of the involvement of Peter Cullen, the longtime voice of Optimus Prime. He praised Cullen for embodying qualities such as "strength and gentleness and kindness" and for "protecting the weak."

Despite his recent role as a hero, LeMaster admitted that playing the devil remains a favorite. His portrayal of Satan in The Babylon Bee sketches often leans into comedic scenarios, such as a frustrated HR director. "What if the devil was an HR director?" LeMaster mused. "You know, guys, it's been a rough quarter. Make sure that you put cover letters on all the things you turn in, please."

LeMaster approaches his villainous characters by seeking a distorted version of a good motivation. "There's nothing that the devil can create in and of himself. He can only take what's good and he can twist it," he explained. "You always start with a good guy and then you can twist it to something evil. That's kind of what I think the best villains end up being like."