Pete Davidson has been cast as the voice of the Autobot Mirage in 2023's Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, a very different character compared to most of Davidson's previous roles and personality. Rise of the Beasts is heavily based on the Transformers: Beast Wars series, and will introduce many Beast Wars characters. The movie is set in 1994 New York City, following 2018's Bumblebee acting as a soft reboot for the Transformers film series.
Pete Davidson is famous for his straightforward delivery and brutal honesty, and his entire vibe exudes one of being a slacker. As a comedian, he always tries to find some way to lighten the mood and make others laugh. These attributes are what made him famous, but he wasn't born wealthy or famous. Mirage is a walking stereotype of the rich and powerful, who sees the entire Autobot and Decepticon conflict as beneath him. Since there's such a rift between actor and character, this could be a sign that Davidson wants to expand beyond always being "the funny guy," while his comedic skills might change Mirage to be more of a lighthearted character.
How Mirage Is Different Than Pete Davidson's Usual Roles
Pete Davidson quickly rose to fame on Saturday Night Live and eventually transitioned into playing similarly comedic roles in various movies, with his characters often being like Davidson himself - a little bit of a slacker and sort of a screw-up. At the very least, they're often similar to the vibe Davidson gives off. They don't take themselves or the situations they're in too seriously. Like his characters, Davidson didn't start out extremely wealthy, instead managing to succeed in New York's extremely competitive comedy scene.
Mirage's prideful attitude is a massive departure from these roles, and his disgust at dealing with "commoners" is completely at odds with Davidson's own history. Mirage is almost the exact opposite of the roles Davidson has previously played, more of a straightforward and serious man than the guy making the jokes. He has an extremely selfish nature, thanks to his carefree and wealthy lifestyle prior to the events in Beast Wars. All he wants is to end the war so that he can go back to living a life of luxury.
Could Transformers Be Hinting That Davidson Wants To Grow As An Actor?
By playing such a different character, Davidson could be looking to expand the roles he gets. He excels at dry deliveries, which is great for more than just making jokes. Transformers is a massively successful brand, which certainly won't hurt Davidson's portfolio as he continues to find new roles. While voicing a giant robot isn't the most serious role in the world, it could open doors and help to grow Davidson's abilities in different tones for his characters.
Mirage could be brought closer to Davidson's personal brand of acting, fitting the character to the actor instead. Doing so would require Mirage to stop looking down on the other Autobots, a huge part of the original character. Most likely, director Steven Caple Jr. and his team will change Mirage in Rise of the Beasts and find a middle ground that allows Davidson to perform his best while keeping Mirage as the selfish socialite he is. For now, audiences will have to wait until 2023 to see how Pete Davidson takes on his character in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
