Our insider sleuther JtPrime dropped a minor tidbit over at TFW in regards to some release changes (TBC):
Reportedly, Studio Series wave 1 2023 will just a solid 2x case of Rise of the Beasts Scourge, with Optimus Primal kicked all the way to wave 3 (Wave 2 is reportedly SS86 Snarl). This would put Primal hitting retail later this fall.
I’m wondering if he wasn’t delayed to make some last minute changes? It’s worth noting that all the gimmick toys we’ve seen of Primal, he has had the cartoon’s “open faceplate mouth”. The film’s trailer, however, portrayed his robot mode with a full faceplate like Optimus Prime. Maybe a repeat of the 2007 Megatron headsculpt situation, perhaps?