The next instalment of the Transformers franchise, Rise of the Beasts, rolls out into theaters on June 8. Bumblebee served as a solid reboot for the series after Michael Bay's divisive efforts, but this chapter promises to combine the best of both takes in order to deliver what Paramount no doubt hopes will be the first of a new slate of titles.
However, the studio may be about to take the property in an unexpected (and exciting) direction.
According to reliable insider @MyTimeToShineH, a Transformers/G.I. Joe crossover is finally in the works. As you can see below, the scooper shared the cover artwork of an Image Comics crossover comic from 2003 along with the caption, "It's happening."
2021's Snake Eyes was a flop, and the prior G.I. Joe movies failed to impress fans and critics alike. With that in mind, throwing those characters into an adventure alongside Optimus Prime and company is arguably the best way to bring that struggling property to a place where it can find box office success.
After all, it's impossible to imagine this being anything other than a hit, though with nothing confirmed at this stage, take this rumour with a pinch of salt for now.
It's unclear where this will fit into Paramount's larger plans for Transformers. An animated prequel starring Chris Hemsworth and Scarlett Johansson, Transformers One, is slated for a September 13, 2024 release. We can't imagine the G.I. Joe characters are going to appear there, so here's hoping this would be a live-action crossover.
Any ideas Paramount likely had for G.I. Joe must have gone out the window when Snake Eyes bombed and it would be an uphill battle to get people back into theaters to watch any of those characters take centre stage. However, should they battle it out alongside or against fan-favourite Autobots and Decepticons, then that might lead to an eventual revival outside of Transformers.
As always, you'll want to keep checking back here for updates.