The concept of a crossover between two of Hasbro’s most iconic toy franchises-turned-film series, Transformers and G.I. Joe, has always sparked immense enthusiasm among fans. These franchises have a rich history of crossovers in comic books well before Transformers: Rise of the Beasts confirmed their shared cinematic universe. However, many are unaware that there were also intriguing behind-the-scenes connections during their development phases. A notable instance is the creation of the inaugural live-action Transformers film, directed by Michael Bay in 2007, which was initially envisioned as a G.I. Joe movie. Let’s delve into this fascinating journey and uncover what transpired.

How the Gulf War Shaped the Transformation of ‘G.I. Joe’ into ‘Transformers’

As detailed by producer Don Murphy, the origin of Transformers coincided with his early efforts to bring G.I. Joe to the big screen. His accounts reveal that he had been diligently working to launch a G.I. Joe film project and had finally secured interest from a studio. “I had been in conversation with Hasbro to do G.I. Joe actually, and Sony was interested in doing it,” Murphy shared during discussions on the set of Transformers. “Then we invaded Iraq, and it became clear that pursuing a film titled G.I. Joe was probably not the most prudent choice at that moment.” This pivotal moment occurred in 2003, coinciding with the onset of what would be labeled the Second Gulf War. While G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra was eventually released years later, well after the conflict had begun, Transformers became the primary focus for Hasbro Films to bring to theaters sooner.

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Following this, it took an additional two years to refine and develop Transformers into a project that could secure a substantial budget from Hollywood studios. With Michael Bay confirmed as the director and Steven Spielberg as the executive producer, Transformers became a successful collaboration between Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks, effectively sidelining G.I. Joe at that moment. It’s noteworthy that Don Murphy was just one part of a much larger endeavor, as a G.I. Joe movie had been in development prior to his involvement, but continued to languish in development hell for several years thereafter. Ultimately, Stephen Sommers was tasked with directing the initial live-action adaptation of G.I. Joe, which received significant criticism from both critics and audiences. This outcome highlighted that Murphy’s decision to pivot from G.I. Joe to Transformers was indeed the right call, particularly considering G.I. Joe‘s ongoing struggles in securing a successful cinematic presence.

The Significance of U.S. Military Involvement in ‘Transformers’

Interestingly, even though G.I. Joe was excluded from Transformers, the film still showcased a prominent U.S. Military presence. Characters such as Josh Duhamel‘s Captain William Lennox and Tyrese Gibson‘s Sgt. Roger Epps played pivotal roles in the original movie and went on to become key figures throughout the franchise, outlasting even the character of Shia LaBeouf‘s Sam Witwicky. “Michael [Bay] has a longstanding relationship with the military,” Murphy noted when discussing the military’s involvement in the production. “It’s really that simple; they’ve approved the script and have been enthusiastic about the project since we began filming. The initial week included shooting on actual Air Force bases.”

But why integrate military elements into a film primarily centered on alien robots battling one another? The rationale behind this decision was driven by Michael Bay‘s vision to add realism and credibility to the narrative. “That’s why the military involvement was crucial; we aimed to create a film that felt authentic,” the director explained during a Collider interview in 2007. For Bay, the inclusion of military personnel was vital to the film’s overall impact. As he recounted, a Pentagon liaison once remarked, “Well, you know, if aliens do land, the U.S. military should indeed be involved…” At that time, Transformers marked a significant collaboration between the United States Armed Forces and a major Hollywood production, and Bay was determined to portray a sense of mutual respect and cooperation between the military and the heroes of the film. With any luck, the anticipated Transformers/G.I. Joe crossover will further enhance this theme.

In a battle between the noble Autobots and the sinister Decepticons, their conflict reaches Earth. Teenager Sam Witwicky, portrayed by Shia LaBe

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