You know the Transformers series, which unveils its fifth film, The Last Knight, later this week. But did you know that the franchise largely exists because of the war in Iraq? It’s true; producer Don Murphy originally pitched Hasbro on making a G.I. Joe film series, but because of the political climate in the early 2003 after 9/11, they were hesitant and suggested Murphy instead devote his energies to the Transformers. Hasbro did eventually make two big-budget G.I. Joes, but only after the Transformers became a massive success with Paramount and DreamWorks. That’s just one of the facts featured in the latest installment of You Think You Know Movies!

The voice of Optimus Prime from the old Transformers cartoon, Peter Cullen, returned to voice his old character in Michael Bay’s movies. But his nemesis Megatron was recast. Frank Welker provided his voice on the series, but Bay cast The Matrix baddie Hugo Weaving in the role, at least for the first three films. Weaving later said that playing Megatron was “meaningless,” and claimed he didn’t even meet Bay when working on the project. (Ironically, Megatron returns in Transformers: The Last Knight, where he’s voiced by ... Frank Welker.)

You Think You Know Movies? is a ScreenCrush original series that dives deep into the cinematic worlds of your favorite movies and freeze frames a few tidbits you might not have known. We’ve already tackled Star Wars, The Avengers and Spider-Man, but this time there’s more than meets the eye to these Transformers facts. Watch more installments of ‘You Think You Know Movies?’ below and let us know in the comments what movies we should cover next!

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