[Editor’s Note: The succeeding content includes spoilers for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts]
As Transformers: Rise of the Beasts introduces Maximals, Terrorcons, and Unicron (voiced by Colman Domingo) on the big screen, the burning question on everyone’s mind is the timing of the much-anticipated Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover, hinted at in the film’s finale. FilmSweep’s Steven Weintraub secured an exclusive chat with Lorenzo di Bonaventura, the producer of Rise of the Beasts, who shared that while discussions on meshing the two franchises are ongoing, they have a well-defined roadmap for the crossover.
The storyline of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts sees the Autobots and Maximals teaming up with human protagonists Noah Diaz (played by Anthony Ramos) and Elena Wallace (portrayed by Dominique Fishback) to thwart Unicron, a transformer with an insatiable appetite for planets. Despite their success, Noah grapples with ordinary life challenges, like securing a stable income. During an enigmatic job interview, he stumbles upon a covert government organization, G.I. Joe, which recognizes his world-saving actions and proposes a partnership with the Autobots for future missions. The setup strongly hints at an epic crossover blockbuster. Yet, di Bonaventura clarifies that rather than rushing into a Transformers and G.I. Joe movie, their objective is to gradually familiarize audiences with the true American heroes in the Transformers universe.
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He elucidates, “The notion of a crossover isn’t simply merging two worlds all at once. It involves thoughtful storytelling. What we aim to do is introduce a character or characters from the Joe franchise and weave them into the Transformers universe for the upcoming movie. […] Picture this – it’s not entirely precise, but consider you’re creating a dirty dozen, with three being Joes. We’re infusing Joe elements, and this could potentially diversify into many different narratives.”
Image courtesy of Paramount Pictures/ScreenRant
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Although di Bonaventura verifies their plans to incorporate G.I. Joe characters into the Transformers world, no definitive decisions have been made. He assures us, however, that the sequel to Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will seamlessly blend Maximals and G.I. Joe characters with Autobots. He elaborates:
“We don’t finalize everything at the outset. We rely more on instincts about how the story unfolds. The real novelty in this movie are the Maximals. We aren’t done exploring them. We don’t want their story to be overshadowed by the arrival of the Joes. The Maximals will definitely feature in the next film. Our challenge is creating a storyline that integrates characters from the Joes, Maximals, and Autobots. Over time, the Joe characters can branch into different arcs. As for the next film, the plan, thus far, is essentially a collaborative effort from these three groups to tackle the subsequent antagonist.”
Still, di Bonaventura advises fans not to expect a sudden influx of G.I. Joe characters in the forthcoming Transformers movies. Instead, the focus will remain on a select few characters, allowing audiences to gradually adapt to the expanded hero lineup.
“Look at our approach with the Maximals. We introduced five but centered our attention on two: Primal and Airazor. The same strategy will be applied to any new Joe characters. There will be a focal point, maybe two. Any additional characters, like Rhinox and Cheetor, might have their moments, but they won’t be the main story. Juggling multiple characters can lead to confusion if not managed properly.”
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is now showing in theaters. Delve into our engaging conversation with Lorenzo di Bonaventura below.
