The concept for the crossover movie between G.I. Joe and Transformers has been clarified through a production update from one of its producers. At the conclusion of 2023’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, the protagonist Noah (played by Anthony Ramos) was invited to join a group that turned out to be the G.I. Joe organization, hinting that the sequel would bring together these two legendary multimedia franchises. This crossover was suggested to be part of the planned Rise of the Beasts trilogy, which is largely distinct from the forthcoming animated film Transformers One.
Rachel Foertsch from Screen Rant recently interviewed producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, who provided an update on the Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover. He confirmed the development of a live-action crossover movie but expressed caution in using the term “crossover” due to its varied interpretations. For him, it means that “the Joes are going to be in the Transformers world and be present.”
Di Bonaventura described filmmaking as a “balancing act” that involves finding the right mix of each story element, noting that the new movie is “still in the early process.” Here is di Bonaventura’s full quote:
“We are going to deliver a live-action G.I. Joe crossover. I hesitate to use the word crossover because I think people have different interpretations of what that means. To me, it means the Joes will be in the Transformers world and present. I think every movie involves balancing how much of each element you include. In this movie, how funny can we be? How serious? How do you cross that line? How do you conceal the villain? All those balancing factors are at play. We’re still in the early stages of figuring out the balance.”
Implications of Lorenzo di Bonaventura’s Comments for the Transformers & G.I. Joe Crossover
The Two Franchises Won’t Fully Clash
While Bonaventura’s remarks suggest the movie’s plot is still in development, he has disclosed a major aspect of the new film. Inevitably, given the setup from the end of Rise of the Beasts, it will primarily be a Transformers movie rather than an equal crossover. The sequel is expected to resemble 2020’s Scoob!, which incorporated other Hanna-Barbera characters while focusing on the Scooby-Doo gang, rather than balanced crossover films like Freddy vs. Jason or Alien vs. Predator.
Scoob! included appearances from other classic animated characters such as Dynomutt the Dog Wonder, Captain Caveman, Atom Ant, Jabberjaw, Grape Ape, Frankenstein Jr., and Dr. Benton Quest.
This emphasis on the Transformers franchise over G.I. Joe might indicate that few, if any, characters from the previous Joe movies will appear in the new project. This approach is logical given the franchise’s inconsistent continuity, with G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) and its 2013 sequel Retaliation featuring largely different casts, and the 2021 Henry Golding-led origin story Snake Eyes charting its own course.
Our Perspective on the Transformers & G.I. Joe Crossover
This Strategy Could Benefit Both Franchises
Ultimately, this direction seems sensible for the new Transformers movie. The G.I. Joe franchise is still searching for its identity after the commercial disappointment of Snake Eyes, which grossed only $40.1 million against a budget of approximately $100 million. As the Joe franchise works out what resonates in their films, it seems prudent for them to gradually rebuild their brand within the lucrative Rise of the Beasts universe, allowing interest to develop without fully committing to a crossover.
