A glimpse at recent box office data reveals a few proven formulas for achieving success: shared universes, crossovers, and the charismatic presence of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. The former professional wrestler has experienced a significant surge in popularity, making him a highly sought-after figure in the industry.
However, not all of his ventures have yielded outstanding results. One franchise in which his involvement has yet to reach its full potential is G.I. Joe. While the initial two installments of the series have not been outright disappointments, The Rock’s career has seen even greater triumphs with many of his films since the release of G.I. Joe: Retaliation in 2013.
Is Dwayne Johnson Jumping Ship After Black Adam’s Failure
A frequently proposed solution to revitalize the G.I. Joe franchise is to create a crossover with Transformers, another successful live-action franchise under Paramount Pictures. D.J. Caruso, known for directing xXx: Return of Xander Cage, was once in discussions to helm G.I. Joe 3. During an interview at the xXx junket, Caruso talked about his potential involvement with the G.I. Joe project.
“I would like for it to happen. Paramount and I—right before I started this—were kind of working on that, and met with Dwayne [“The Rock” Johnson], and were discussing it. And that was where I would like to see—if I was gonna be involved in G.I. Joe—that franchise go. And I think there might be a chance, so we’ll see what happens.”
Spoilers Ahead!
The highly anticipated crossover between the beloved Transformers and G.I. Joe franchises has now been confirmed. The conclusion of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts contains a direct reference to the Joes, indicating that the ultimate ’80s action-toy mash-up is on its way. Director Steven Caple Jr. and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura recently sat down with Variety at the film’s premiere to discuss what lies ahead for the series. Will Dwayne Johnson be making a return to this $5.3 billion cinematic universe after Black Adam’s failure?
Will G.I. Joe Crossover Bring Back Dwayne Johnson
The formidable force, the G.I. Joes, an elite group of highly skilled commandos, has thrice graced the silver screen. The inaugural installment, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, debuted in 2009, featuring Channing Tatum as the indomitable leader Duke and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the nefarious Cobra Commander.
The G.I. Joe franchise underwent a cast shake-up in 2013 with the release of G.I. Joe: Retaliation. This sequel introduced Dwayne Johnson as the charismatic Roadblock and Bruce Willis as the legendary General Joe Colton. Fast forward to 2021, and the G.I. Joe saga received a fresh start with the rebooted film Snake Eyes.
Lorenzo di Bonaventura, the esteemed producer behind every installment of the Transformers and G.I. Joe film franchises, expressed his fondness for Snake Eyes, considering him his favorite character. However, he remained tight-lipped about the potential return of familiar faces from previous films. So it remains to be seen if Dwayne Johnson will be returning to the $5.3 billion cinematic universe for his next adventure.
G.I. Joe: Retaliation is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Paramount+.
Source: Screen Rant
