Actor Jarret LeMaster Brings Villainy and Faith to Bumblebee Role in Transformers Anniversary Short

Jarret LeMaster has built a career out of playing some of history's most notorious figures — Satan, Adolf Hitler, and Judas Iscariot among them. Now the Christian actor, writer, and former worship leader is stepping into one of pop culture's most beloved franchises, voicing Bumblebee in the animated short «Optimus Prime: Awakening» that accompanies the 40th anniversary theatrical rerelease of «The Transformers: The Movie.»

LeMaster told Fox News Digital that his preference for villainous roles is partly practical. «I don't wanna kiss anybody, and, so, playing bad guys makes a lot of sense for me,» he said. «They never kiss anybody, you know. They just murder them.» He explained that performing a murder scene involves pretending, while a kiss requires genuine physical contact — a line he is not willing to cross on camera. «Playing bad guys really works for my family,» he joked. «And then my kids can look up to me as a great villain.»

The résumé is unusual for someone who spent years in church ministry. LeMaster still volunteers and leads worship at his local church, though he tends to keep some acting work «on the DL.» He acknowledged that his choices have drawn mixed reactions. «Sometimes people are upset that I play 'Woke Jesus.' Sometimes people think that it's weird that I played the devil. Sometimes people were offended that I would, you know, play Adolf Hitler,» he said. «The one that is not offensive is Bumblebee. People are very excited about that for some reason.»

His path from ministry to professional villainy began with a call asking him 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,» LeMaster recalled being told. At the time he was working full time at his church and with the Bee, and he initially assumed the company was based somewhere like «Idaho or Narnia,» only to discover it was in California. One villain role led to another. «I don't know why I always get cast as bad characters,» he said. «I think it's probably just because I'm bald.... I blame the media. I blame Jason Statham.»

His latest role places him firmly on the side of good. «Optimus Prime: Awakening» features LeMaster as Bumblebee alongside Frank Welker as Megatron and Soundwave, and the late Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime. The short accompanies a 40th anniversary rerelease that exceeded initial box-office projections, prompting additional theatrical dates through Oct. 7. LeMaster said he initially underestimated the project because director Josh Wassung was a friend. «I thought this was my friend's little movie, this little Transformers movie that he was making for Hasbro,» he said. Then he learned Cullen was involved. LeMaster praised the longtime Optimus Prime actor for embodying «strength and gentleness and kindness» and «protecting the weak.» «Who am I? Why do I get to play Bumblebee?» LeMaster recalled wondering.

For LeMaster, even the Transformers role connects back to his faith. «It's an opportunity to sort of spread good news in the kingdom through, you know, robots,» he said. Despite joining the Autobots, he admitted Satan remains particularly fun to play. «I love playing the devil because he is so much like me,» he said. «I know that sounds really weird.» His Babylon Bee version of Satan is less fire-and-brimstone than frustrated corporate middle management. «What if the devil was an HR director?» LeMaster said, then slipped into character: «You know, guys, it's been a rough quarter. Make sure that you put cover letters on all the things you turn in, please.»

Beneath the joke is a serious approach to portraying villains. LeMaster said he looks for something good in a character's motivations and then considers how it became distorted. «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 said. «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.»

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Connor Quincy

Technology Reporter

Connor Quincy covers public affairs, politics, business, culture and daily news for Core Memo. The role focuses on verification, context, and clear explanations for readers.

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