Following his much-discussed villain turn in “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” and earning him some of the best reviews of his career, Aussie actor Chris Hemsworth has his eye on yet another new franchise. According to Deadline, Hemsworth, known for the “Thor” and “Extraction” franchises, is in talks to join Paramount’s upcoming “Transformers”/”G.I. Joe” film.
This would be something of a rep for Hemsworth, who is already starring in Paramount’s upcoming animated kids “Transformers” film “Transformers One” which hits theaters on Sept. 20, 2024 (and has apparently tested through the roof, though it looks like it’s for Nickelodeon-age kids). Though it’s unclear who Hemsworth would play, it’s unlikely that the actor will only be voicing Optimus Prime, his role in “Transformers One”— you presumably don’t cast Chris Hemsworth in a live-action film for just a voice.
Both are spawned from Hasbro Toys and successful animated cartoons in the 1980s that solidified their popularity in pop culture, making way for the film that followed, “Transformers” and “G.I. Joe” crossover films have been talked about for years. But it only became a reality when the seeds for a team-up were teased at the end of Steven Caple Jr.’s “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts,” released last summer.
Caple, at one point, had been eyeing directing this untitled “G.I. Joe”/”Transformers,” and he was the one that apparently brought up the idea in the post-credit tease for his ‘Rise Of The Beasts’ film, but it’s unclear if anyone is attached.
“The studio reacted positively, and they were just like, ‘Well, how do we do this? How do we make this happen?’” Caple told THR last year, noting there was a crossover graphic novel that could serve as inspiration. “It took almost two years to go through the whole system and talk to everybody and get a feel.”
No release date yet, but what’s clear is that in spite of merger talks and whether Skydance or Sony/Apollo buy the studio, Paramount is still moving full steam ahead with all its I.P. offerings. Paramount’s “Transformers”/”G.I. Joe” film was officially announced at CinemaCon earlier this year. [Deadline]