Fans hoping to see Optimus Prime and Duke share the big screen will have to keep waiting. Paramount has officially pulled the plug on its planned Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover movie, a project that was first teased in 2023's Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
That film's post-credits scene introduced Anthony Ramos's Noah Diaz being recruited by Michael Kelly's Agent Burke for G.I. Joe, setting up a shared universe. The crossover was expected to star Chris Hemsworth as Duke, who already voiced Orion Pax/Optimus Prime in 2024's animated Transformers One. But now, as a separate G.I. Joe movie from Danny McBride moves forward with Bradley Cooper as Duke, the crossover is no longer in development.
A Rough Patch for Transformers on the Big Screen
The cancellation is the latest blow for the Transformers franchise, which has struggled to recapture its former box office glory. Michael Bay's final installment, Transformers: The Last Knight, underperformed in 2017, and subsequent entries like Bumblebee, Rise of the Beasts, and Transformers One have failed to reach the billion-dollar heights of earlier films. It's unclear when the robots in disguise will return to theaters.
Meanwhile, G.I. Joe is mounting its own comeback. The McBride-led film is gearing up for action, hoping to achieve the blockbuster success that has often eluded the franchise. But it will do so without the Autobots by its side.
Not Their First Rodeo
Transformers and G.I. Joe have crossed paths many times before—just not in live-action. Both properties are owned by Hasbro, and their first comic book crossover hit shelves in 1987 from Marvel. Since then, they've collided in numerous storylines, even exploring odd corners like the Pretenders and Cobra-La.
Currently, Robert Kirkman's Skybound imprint is weaving both franchises together in its Energon Universe line, alongside other Hasbro properties like M.A.S.K., Rom: Space Knight, and Micronauts. Those comics have been a hit, and an animated adaptation is in the works. For now, though, the live-action crossover remains a dream deferred.
For more on how other crossovers are faring, check out Magic: The Gathering's new crossover and the worst book-to-movie adaptations. And if you're looking for something to stream, see Jason Sudeikis in Colossal on Paramount+.
