The Ultimate Crossover Twist: Transformers 7's Unbelievable GI Joe Cameo Sets Epic Finale in Motion!

Transformers: Rise of the Beast actor Michael Kelly discusses the unexpected G.I. Joe crossover ending in a recent interview. He explains how the collaboration between Hasbro's popular brands was brought to life on the big screen. Rise of the Beasts, the seventh installment in the Transformers franchise, follows the story introduced in Bumblebee's rebooted continuity, as the Autobots encounter new allies and adversaries from Cybertron and face threats from beyond the galaxy. Hasbro's G.I. Joe film series, which originated from the military sci-fi toyline, includes films like G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009), G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013), and Snake Eyes (2021).

In an interview with Collider, Kelly, who plays Agent Burke, discussed the surprising introduction of G.I. Joe in the final moments of Transformers: Rise of the Beast. He shared that director Steve Caple Jr. initially had concerns about the legalities of incorporating G.I. Joe characters into the movie. Nonetheless, they decided it would be entertaining to connect the two universes, originally planning it as a post-credits scene. Kelly's complete explanation can be found below.

"Steven Caple Jr. reached out to me with a pitch for this particular scene in the film. Originally planned as a post-credits scene, it was eventually decided to make it the final scene. During his pitch, he mentioned the possibility of incorporating the G.I. Joe world into our film, although the rights to it were uncertain at the time. I found his idea to be incredibly intriguing.

During the filming process, we shot multiple versions of the scene, with different cards that my character gives him. The version that made it into the final cut is just one of the options we captured."

G.I. Joe's Surprising Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Cameo Marks A Major Shift In Hasbro's Film Franchise Plans

Transformers and G.I. Joe have a rich history of crossover events predating Rise of the Beasts. In the 1986 comic miniseries "G.I. Joe and the Transformers," they joined forces to foil Cobra and the Decepticons' plot to seize control of a mobile nuclear power plant. This paved the way for a series of collaborations across different publishers, including IDW's expansive "Revolution" storyline in 2016, establishing a shared universe encompassing Transformers, G.I. Joe, and other Hasbro properties. Furthermore, Transformers and G.I. Joe have intersected in Hasbro's toy lines, particularly the recent "Transformers Collaborative" subline that introduced iconic G.I. Joe and Cobra vehicles such as Megatron, Bumblebee, and Soundwave.

In terms of the cinematic realm, the paths of the Transformers and G.I. Joe franchises have taken quite some time to converge. A Hasbro Shared Cinematic Universe encompassing G.I. Joe, Micronauts, Visionaries, M.A.S.K, and ROM the Space Knight had been in the works since 2015, but the inclusion of the Transformers franchise was hindered by Michael Bay's involvement with a writer's room focused on developing up to 14 potential movie ideas. However, with the Transformers franchise undergoing a soft reboot and the underperformance of Paramount's 2021 film Snake Eyes, Rise of the Beasts presents an opportunity to breathe life into Hasbro's movie aspirations.

The G.I. Joe cameo in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts was unexpected, considering their unsuccessful attempts at establishing a film franchise. However, this surprise appearance showcases the ambitious nature of the rebooted Transformers franchise. Although it may have been intended as a fun tribute by Caple Jr., viewers will be eager to see if the agency makes a comeback in future movies.