Exclusive: GI Joe Movie Producer Reveals Surprising Casting Ideas after Dismissing John Cena Duke Fan Theory
John Cena's casting in the GI Joe movie sparks fan theories, but producer denies Duke connection However, with Cena's Transformers return, could a franchise crossover be possible?
Lorenzo di Bonaventura clarified that John Cena's Bumblebee character is not Duke from G.I. Joe, despite their shared roots. However, this doesn't mean the end for Cena's involvement in the Transformers franchise. In the previous film, he played Agent Jack Burns, who pursued the Autobot shortly after his arrival on Earth. Although Burns won't be appearing in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, there are plans for the character's return in a unique way. In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, di Bonaventura addressed fan theories about Cena's character and confirmed that while he is not Duke, he is open to the actor appearing in the G.I. Joe franchise.
How Cena's Transformers Return Could Spark A Major Franchise Crossover
While I cannot completely refute your statement, I do understand why you may perceive him in that way, as he possesses a certain type of energy. Personally, I would be thrilled to collaborate with John once again. He possesses fantastic qualities and it would be great to have him back in the series.
Cena's return to the Transformers franchise in Rise of the Beasts offers an exciting opportunity to delve deeper into Sector 7's backstory. However, it also presents the possibility of a crossover with the G.I. Joe franchise that has been discussed for some time. As di Bonaventura pointed out, Bumblebee's character shares similarities with the Joes, such as unwavering dedication to their cause and the ability to take on powerful foes.
Efforts to create a crossover between the Transformers and G.I. Joe franchises have been ongoing for the past decade, with producer di Bonaventura and G.I. Joe: Retaliation director Jon M. Chu expressing interest. In fact, a scrapped script for a third G.I. Joe movie even included the Transformers, but it was ultimately rejected by Paramount due to uncertainty surrounding the future of the G.I. Joe franchise. Despite continued efforts, the prospect of a crossover remains unlikely, as both franchises have faced recent setbacks - Bumblebee received positive reviews but underperformed at the box office, while Snake Eyes was a critical and commercial disappointment.
