Cristo Fernández, best known for his role as soccer player Dani Rojas in Apple TV Plus’s Ted Lasso, grew up as a fan of the Transformers toys and now can’t believe he’s portraying one of them in a movie that promises to be one of the biggest of the year.
With the release of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, the franchise enters a new era, ushering in fresh factions and promising uninterrupted action. And for fans, knowing that the actors portraying these iconic roles were once kids who enjoyed these films and toys is an excellent way to bring the stars closer to the audience.
Cristo Fernández told The Hollywood Reporter about his journey from fan to actor at the Brooklyn, New York premiere of Rise of the Beasts, where he joined co-stars Anthony Ramos, Liza Koshy, Peter Dinklage, Pete Davidson, and Dominique Fishback on the red carpet. Fernández revealed:
“It’s a dream come true. I still cannot believe it. I’m asking people to pinch me. I used to play with the toys, and now I’m one of them.”
In Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, former football player Fernández plays Wheeljack, an Autobot who is both a scientist and a mechanic. When transformed, he looks like a Volkswagen Type 2 panel bus from the 1970s, which is brown and white. Wheeljack’s Mexican accent is a defining characteristic in this version of the story.
Adding to his thoughts on becoming the first Latin Autobot in Transformers history, the Ted Lasso actor said:
“I just hope this opens more doors for more Latino talent out there.”
Catch Fernandez as Wheeljack, the rest of the Autobots, and Optimus Prime, face their greatest challenge in the form of a new threat capable of destroying the Earth. Paramount Pictures will release Transformers: Rise of the Beasts in the United States on June 9, 2023.
