The Transformers franchise has been part of American pop culture since the 1980s, when toy sales and an animated series helped drive each other’s success. Interest slowed in the 1990s, but that changed in 2007 when director Michael Bay released a live action film that surprised the industry. The movie earned $709.7 million worldwide and launched a new era for the brand. Since then, the franchise has brought in more than $5.2 billion globally.
In recent years, that momentum has weakened. The latest film, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts in 2023, delivered the lowest box office performance of the live action series. Even so, the film introduced a possible crossover with another 1980s property, G.I. Joe, which has kept fans watching for what comes next.
Director Steven Caple Jr., who led Rise of the Beasts, confirmed he will not return for the next installment. In an interview with Screen Rant, he said the planned sequel is not currently focused on the G.I. Joe crossover, though the idea remains on the table. He explained, “I still do have big plans for what that [crossover] could be, but we’ll have to see. We’ll have to see what comes about it. I am not part of the next Transformers film, but it’s still in development and there’s still time, so you just never know.”
The financial trend for Transformers has been uneven for more than a decade. Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Transformers: Age of Extinction each passed $1 billion worldwide, but earnings have declined since 2014. Box office results have not matched critical response. Dark of the Moon holds a 35 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while Bumblebee reached 91 percent but earned only $468 million.
The G.I. Joe franchise has faced even greater challenges. The first two films posted moderate returns of $302.5 million and $375.7 million, but reviews were weak at 33 percent and 29 percent. Paramount attempted a reset with Snake Eyes in 2021, aiming for a more grounded tone. The film struggled with delays tied to the pandemic and earned just $40 million worldwide.
Actor Anthony Ramos, who starred in Rise of the Beasts, has also raised questions about the future of the crossover. Speaking with MovieWeb, he said, “Come on, talk to Paramount. I mean, everybody’s buying everybody now. So Paramount, talk to Skydance or talk to whoever … all of them, just hit them up, if you’ve got their number. Shout them out.”
For now, the future of both franchises remains uncertain. The crossover idea still exists, but without firm plans or a director attached, the next step for Transformers is far from settled.
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English (US) · 