UPDATE: The Bay rumors came true: Michael Bay is in early talks to direct the new Transformers movie, with Steven Spielberg taking creative charge.
The Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover movie is no longer in development at Paramount.
The confirmation is tucked inside Deadline’s report that Bradley Cooper is set to star as Duke, which states Danny McBride’s G.I. Joe is uncoupled from the previously planned crossover film with Transformers.
Translation: the two Hasbro franchises are going their separate ways.
The Post-Credits Tease Goes Nowhere
The crossover was set up on screen.
2023’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts ended with Anthony Ramos’ Noah Diaz getting recruited by G.I. Joe in the post-credits scene.
Jurassic World writer Derek Connolly was penning the crossover as recently as June. And back in February, Deadline reported the concept remained under consideration at Paramount.
Now it’s dead, and that post-credits scene joins the pile of franchise teases that never paid off.
G.I. Joe Goes It Alone
Instead, G.I. Joe relaunches on its own.
McBride is directing a full reimagining that follows Cooper’s Duke and a squad of Joes in Springfield, the town from the Larry Hama comics that Cobra secretly runs.
“It grounds G.I. Joe. It’s not a comedy,” McBride has said.
Where Transformers Goes From Here
Transformers isn’t standing still either.
It: Welcome to Derry co-creator Jason Fuchs is writing a new Transformers movie that continues Noah Diaz’s story out of Rise of the Beasts, just without the Joes waiting at the end of it.
Rumors have also said Michael Bay could return to direct, with Shia LaBeouf back as Sam Witwicky. None of that is confirmed.
And per our insiders, there’s a bigger matchup in the room: a Godzilla vs Transformers movie is heating up at the combined Paramount Warner Bros., chasing the Godzilla vs Kong money.
The crossover Rise of the Beasts set up is gone. Duke gets Springfield, and the Autobots might get Godzilla.
