Wheeljack (ROTB)

This article is about the Rise of the Beasts Autobot. For the other movie Wheeljack, see Wheeljack (Movie). For a list of other meanings, see Wheeljack (disambiguation).

Wheeljack is an Autobot from the Rise of the Beasts portion of the Movie continuity family.

Got any cheese?

Soft-spoken and insightful, Wheeljack may lack the bombastic attitude of his fellow Autobots, but he's no less invaluable to their team. An inventor, mechanic and scientist stationed in South America, Wheeljack is enamored with Earth and its natural world, and is committed to ending the war that threatens it. To get around the tight streets of Cusco, he turns into a Volkswagen Type 2 microbus.

Despite being stationed in Peru, he's somehow unknowingly picked up a Mexican accent. Don't assume he speaks Spanish because of it, though; he thinks it's a little racist.

“	Sorry I'm late. I was taking in a harmonious moment between a serene butterfly, and an unruffled caterpillar. Such tranquility.	”
—Wheeljack, Rise of the Beasts

Fiction

Rise of the Beasts film

Voice actor: Cristo Fernández (English), Shunsuke Takeuchi (Japanese), Benjamin Pascal (European French), Marc Winslow (Latin American Spanish), Renato Novara (Italian), Karim El Kammouchi (German), Wendel Bezerra (Brazilian Portuguese)

"Now, last week, Wheeljack used his transformation machine to turn Noah into a car and drive him around the Monaco Grand Prix? Come on!"

Being locally stationed there, Wheeljack joined the Autobot forces upon their arrival in Peru to assist with their search for the other half of the Transwarp Key. After a brief chat with their new human ally Noah Díaz established that, while he may have a Spanish accent, he did not speak Spanish, he explained the lay of the land to the group, including the Festival which would prevent the Autobots easily accessing the city. During Noah and Elena Wallace's search and subsequent chase underground, he hid in the city with Arcee taking cover inside his vehicle mode. When the Terrorcons arrived in force to hunt down the humans, the pair tailed Battletrap up the mountain roads, Arcee exchanging fire while Wheeljack dodged missiles and wrecking balls thrown his way. Unfortunately, before they could get close to Battletrap, the Terrorcon attached his towline to Wheeljack's bumper, throwing him and Arcee off the cliff, which also triggered a rockslide that unwittingly broke up the battling Autobots and Terrorcons.

Recovering, he and Arcee immediately followed Mirage to assist their human allies from an unfamiliar robotic gorilla. Unfortunately for him, a massive robotic rhino bowled him over from behind. After Optimus Prime and Primal made a truce, Wheeljack accompanied the united Autobot and Maximal group to the human village which held Primal's half of the Transwarp Key. The next day, he took part in the final battle to prevent Unicron being summoned to Earth, fighting off the horde of Sweeps and Scorponoks as a distraction for his allies to shut the machine down.

During the course of the battle, he and Optimus came across Battletrap again, nearly getting shot multiple times, with Primal and Prime having to assist to defeat the Terrorcon. Later on, Wheeljack regrouped with Arcee in mowing down more Sweeps, eventually receiving a minor injury to his lower abdomen. He was also knocked down and briefly overwhelmed when Unicron's reinforcements arrived, but was able to recover when Bumblebee arrived to assist after his resurrection. When Optimus was forced to destroy the Transwarp bridge himself, Wheeljack was ordered to retreat to avoid the expected explosion, following Primal out of the area. Victorious and with Prime safe, he and the other Autobots and Maximals remained steadfast, ready to face Unicron's return. Rise of the Beasts

Wheeljack's involvement in the preceding events, or events mostly similar, were also chronicled in the books "Mission at the Museum" and "The Search Is On". In the former, Wheeljack is present in events set in New York City prior to his actual first appearance in the movie.

Toys

Buzzworthy Bumblebee

What's that? One of those 'Led Zeppelins' I've heard so much about?

• Cheetor / Nightbird / Wheeljack (Jungle Mission 3-pack, 2023)

• Accessories: Blaster

Released in a Target-exclusive Buzzworthy Bumblebee "Jungle Mission 3-pack", Wheeljack is a Deluxe Class figure based on his appearance in Rise of the Beasts. He transforms from a bespectacled robot into an unlicensed approximation of a Volkswagen Minibus with "TV Pablo" livery on the side. He includes a blaster that he can hold, or store on the roof of his vehicle mode.

Wheeljack comes packaged with Cheetor and Nightbird. Unlike the actual product, the CG renders on the rear packaging depict his fists being fully painted black.

Rise of the Beasts

Ehrm.. Ackshually..

• Wheeljack (Deluxe Class, 2023)

• TakaraTomy name: Deluxe Class Wheeljack
• TakaraTomy ID number: BD-05
• TakaraTomy release date: July 15, 2023
• Accessories: Blaster

The Wheeljack from the Buzzworthy Bumblebee Jungle Mission 3-pack was also available individually at general retail under Rise of the Beasts packaging.

He was first sighted at Australian retail, before any of his wave mates.

"Stop hitting my child in the head with a lead pipe!"

• Wheeljack & Rhinox (Beast Weaponizer, 2023)

• TakaraTomy name: Kakusei Change Set Wheeljack & Rhinox
• TakaraTomy ID number: BCS-03
• TakaraTomy release date: July 15, 2023
• Known designers: Shogo Hasui (TakaraTomy)

Part of the second wave of Beast Weaponizers, Wheeljack is a simplified toy that converts from a robot to an unlicensed approximation of a Volkswagen Minibus in 11 steps. He comes with a redecoed Beast Battle Master Rhinox, who transforms into a minigun for Wheeljack to wield.

Like much of this toyline, this set was found at retail before any official announcement, this time in Canada.

Studio Series

Did I do that?

• Wheeljack (Deluxe Class, 2024)

• Movie: Rise of the Beasts
• Hasbro ID number: 108
• Accessories: Gun, "Cliffside Chase" backdrop

Released in the first wave of Studio Series Deluxe Class figures for 2024, Wheeljack transforms from robot to licensed Volkswagen van in 28 steps. He includes a handheld blaster weapon rather than the arm blaster he had in the film, which can be stored on the roof of his alt mode.

Oddly enough, the front of Wheeljack's box features a render of his alternate mode, not his robot mode as per usual. Why this decision was made is unknown.

Wheeljack, alongside the first wave of 2024 Studio Series product, were revealed at MCM London 2023.

Merchandise

Jada Toys

Hollywood Rides

It's a Frank, Frank. A Frank that shoots Franks.

• Volkswagen Bus Wheeljack (Scale 1/24 Die Cast Vehicle, 2023)

• Accessories: Autobot badge standee

Released by Jada Toys, this 1/24 scaled non-transforming die-cast licensed Volkswagen Type 2 with rubber tires features opening doors and trunk with detailed interiors. Similar to the Robot Powered Machines, the car features a sculpted robot mode underneath.

Presumably thanks to production lead time, Wheeljack features both the "TV Pablo" markings from the movie itself and the "Frank's TV" branding from footage that went unused in the film.

The 1/24 Wheeljack comes with a small chrome Autobot badge on a display stand.

• Volkswagen Bus Wheeljack (Scale 1/32 Die Cast Vehicle, 2023)

A smaller replica of Wheeljack much similar to the version above. The opening gimmick is limited to the doors only.

Figural Bag Clip

• Wheeljack (2023)

Released by Monogram, this 2.5" 3D foam bag clip takes the form of a chibi Rise of the Beasts Wheeljack.

It was available only as part of a mystery blind bag collection.

Notes

• The promotional render of Wheeljack seen at the top of this page sports some differences from his character model as seen in the film; most notably, it lacks the Autobot badge (a modified Volkswagen logo) on his chest, leaving it blank.
• Rise of the Beasts Wheeljack was conceived as a distinct character from Dark of the Moon Que/Wheeljack. Rather than take the more Generation 1-inspired design of the Wheeljack seen in Bumblebee, either Hasbro or Paramount wanted to lean more into the idea of the character as a nerdy scientist, as they felt the "tough guy" seen in the previous movie was too similar to other characters among the Autobots.
• The storybook "Mission at the Museum", as well as behind-the-scenes photos of Wheeljack's vehicle mode, suggest that he was originally intended to appear in the New York-set segments of the film, with his vehicle mode belonging to "Frank's TV" rather than "TV Pablo". This ended up influencing the Jada Toys die-cast vehicles of Wheeljack, both of which sport "Frank's TV" on their left side and "TV Pablo" on their right.
• Due to the "TV Pablo" branding on his vehicle mode, many fans took to jokingly calling this iteration 'Pablo', as both a shot at him daring not to look like the original, and an affectionate nickname. Even director Steven Caple Jr. and Cristo Fernández (his voice actor) support it!
• During the sequence where the Autobots and Maximals line up ready for battle, a pair of ear-like fins based on those of "Generation 1" Wheeljack pop out of the sides of his head; this was apparently a last-minute addition, as some promotional material (notably, the trailers released by Paramount Pictures UK) show the same footage without the fins. Either way, it's very easy to miss, as the fins have vanished by the next shot that Wheeljack appears in and never show up again!
• In the Latin American Spanish dub, Wheeljack speaks with a Peruvian accent instead of a Mexican one, using Peruvian slang such as causa, chevere, and oe.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Wheeljack (ホイルジャック Hoirujakku)
• Mandarin: Qiānjīndǐng (China, 千斤顶, "Wheeljack" or "Hoisting Jack")