 The movie was being produced by the same company, and at the same  time, as _G.I. Joe: The Movie (1987) (V)_ (qv). It had been agreed  that both movies would suffer the loss of the lead heroes, Optimus  Prime and Duke. Production had begun on G.I. Joe first, and was thus  expected to be released first. During the production of the two  films, G.I. Joe was held up while Transformers finished production.  Release dates were changed and Transformers got theatrical release  in 1986. Optimus Primes death sparked some controversy and caused  the writers to change Dukes death to a coma. G.I. Joe never got to  the theaters, and was released to video instead. Had G.I. Joe been  released first, Optimus Prime might have survived.