Since 2009, the live-action Transformers franchise has been building to one crucial storytelling moment, an end goal that has been 14 years in the making for Paramount and Hasbro. Despite 2009 being the year this goal was formulated as the primary outcome for the studios responsible for the franchise, live-action Transformers began in 2007. Since then, the franchise has consisted of seven movies of differing quality, making a ranking of the Transformers movies somewhat difficult.
The most recent live-action installment into the franchise was 2023’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts which essentially served as a soft reboot of the franchise that began with 2007’s Transformers. As of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ ending, a new future was forged for the series. This future has been in the works for Paramount and Hasbro since 2009, with the two studios finally realizing their joint vision after 14 years.
Hasbro Has Wanted Hoped For A Transformers Crossover Since G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra
The moment in question is the crossover between Transformers and G.I. Joe. The two Hasbro properties are no strangers to crossing paths as has been done at length in many comic book iterations of both franchises. However, a live-action crossover between the Autobots and the Joe’s has not yet been crafted, despite being a wish for Hasbro.
This moment stretches all the way back to 2009 when Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra were released. The latter film was expected to begin the G.I. Joe franchise in modern Hollywood, with the goal from Hasbro and Paramount being the eventual crossover between the two series’. Now, 14 years later, Paramount and Hasbro have their wish as Transformers: Rise of the Beasts ends with Noah Diaz, the film’s human protagonist, being inducted into the G.I. Joe organization.
Why It Has Taken So Long For A Transformers & G.I. Joe Crossover
Given that Hasbro has been building towards this crossover for 14 years, the question remains of why it has taken so long to happen. The reason for this largely stems from the inferior storytelling of Paramount’s movies in both franchises. Michael Bay’s Transformers movies fluctuate in quality, meaning the series was not stable enough to withstand a major crossover. Similarly, both G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra and its sequel, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, were critically panned on release.
This put a stop to Hasbro’s plans, as the G.I. Joe franchise was put on hiatus until 2021’s Snake Eyes. Concerning Transformers, the franchise was focused on retaining a stable output of quality, something that finally came with Bumblebee and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Now that the Transformers franchise has a clearer direction, Paramount and Hasbro have pulled the trigger on the G.I. Joe crossover they have been desiring for over a decade.
