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Rescue Bots Academy To Recast All Parts, Even Optimus Prime, With Non-Union Voice Actors

Actor D.C. Douglas, voice of Chase The Police-Bot on Transformers: Rescue Bots - currently the single longest-running Transformers television series - has announced that he will not be returning as Chase for the followup series, Rescue Bots Academy. Neither will anyone else, not even Peter Cullen, as the studio has chosen to recast the entire show using nonunion labor while moving production from Los Angeles to New York. Keep reading for more details.

Cable shows don’t usually get the word they are done. They just never get that call for the next season. Sometimes, like with “Transformers: Rescue Bots,” we would go a year before getting that call.

Well, yesterday it was announced that there was a spin-off show in development – “Rescue Bots Academy” – and that our show is being referred to in past terms. (Clarity note: the new show may feature Chase, but looks like voices are being cast outside of LA. [Update: it’s confirmed they are using a non-union cast from NY, including Optimus Prime’s voice.])

I can say without a doubt my awesome ride as Chase is over. But what a ride it was!

I want to thank you all for loving “Transformers: Rescue Bots” like you did! We had an amazing FOUR season run – the longest running Transformers cartoon in history! I was honored to be not only a Transformer, but a funny police car that meant a lot to children.

Add in the fact I got to work with such amazing talent (Lacey Chabert, Maurice LaMarche, LeVar Burton, Steve Blum, Mark Hamill, Jason Marsden, Shannon Mckain, Imari K. Williams, Tim Curry, Jeff Bennett, Parvesh Cheena, Diamond White, Elian Garfias, Kath Soucie, Peter Cullen and so many more) and I have to think it was one of those lightening in a bottle chapters of my life.

I also have to thank Ginny McSwain for snagging my audition and throwing it on the “preferred” pile. And for her amazing direction. I learned so much working with her.

And, of course, none of it would have been possible if not for Jeff Kline, Nicole Dubuc and Brian Hohlfeld (as well as the other 25+ writers and countless production team members… And our very own Judge 🤗)

I think what these super talented folks created (and I got to be a part of) is truly classic TV. The end of my ride is made a little easier knowing the show will definitely live on in streaming TV land, making even more kids – who have yet to be born – happy (along with their grateful parents)…

So… *Ahem* This is Chase, signing off. Remember, children, always be a good citizen!

Transformers is no stranger to nonunion voice actors: the voices for Beast Wars, Armada, Energon, and Cybertron were all produced in Vancouver, Canada by some excellent and memorable nonunion actors as was very typical for `90s and early 2000s cartoons. This may be the first time, however, that an entire Transformers series has been recast for cost-cutting purposes.

This news represents pretty much everything we know about Rescue Bots Academy at present, but most likely we'll find out more at SDCC this week!

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