Following the disastrous box office performance of Rise of the Beasts, Michael Bay’s plan for the future of the Transformers franchise may look like a pipe dream now. The standalone sequel to 2018’s Bumblebee, Rise of the Beasts promised a fresh take on the Autobots by exploring its early narrative set during the 90s.
It also drew several references from the comic books and cartoons that fans loved. The finale also gave viewers a hint at the potential crossover between the Transformers and the G.I. Joe franchises. Despite all the surprising elements, the movie failed to attract more moviegoers.
Michael Bay’s 14-Movie Plan For Transformers Franchise Seems Unattainable
The embarrassing box office failure only makes it difficult to see the possibility of Michael Bay’s plan to make seven more installments. In 2017, the filmmaker confirmed that a 14-movie plan had been designated for the live-action franchise following the success of the earlier films. Bumblebee is also considered part of this strategy. Bay revealed at CinemaCon via MTV:
“There are 14 stories written, and there’s good stuff. I would like to do one of them though – a Transformers spin-off.”
This spark of hope that ignited Bay’s motivation to do more Transformers films perhaps originated from Bumblebee’s critical response despite its not-so-impressive box office run. But since Rise of the Beasts gave an underwhelming performance, it may be an indicator that the franchise or the trend for giant mecha films is now plummeting. The audience’s decline in enthusiasm may be a warning sign for Michael Bay to reconsider his strategy.
The 14-movie plan seems ambitious now compared to when the first movie was released in 2007. Viewers meeting the same line-up of heroes and villains does not even sound unique and exciting anymore. Even the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Fast & Furious franchises introducing new characters in every installment already gave fans the movie fatigue.
With the rebooted films, the Transformers storyline already exhibits a complex narrative, and with seven more titles slated for the future, it is highly probable to create more inconsistencies, as well as irreparable plot holes. This will only ruin the legacy of the franchise that many fans have cherished for so long.
Will There Be A Transformers And G.I. Joe Crossover?
While the franchise may be facing impending doom, it may not be too late to make one more risky move. The ending of the Transformers: Rise of the Beasts teased the much-awaited crossover between the Autobots and the G.I. Joes. While this does not guarantee a successful outcome, the hype and renewed interest from fans can open a possibility for new storylines, as well as increase in market sales of merchandise.
Transformers producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura once told Polygon:
“And it is a gamble. Every movie is a gamble, and what you add or take away are gambles.”
As to how the G.I. Joes will enter the picture, he admitted that they have not yet figured it out, but they will surely be part of the story:
“[The G.I. Joe tease] is definitely a promise. I’ve had a lot of questions about this, and here’s my direct answer: We have not developed the script. So, we don’t know exactly [how they fit in], but the answer is like in every other movie, a group of humans and robots fight the bad guy to save the day. G.I. Joes will be part of that.”
This angle will be the most anticipated part of the collaboration, and while it seems Michael Bay and Lorenzo di Bonaventura won’t be getting tired of overseeing the franchise anytime soon, fans will have to keep their eyes peeled for future updates about upcoming Transformers movies.
All Transformers movies are available on Amazon Prime Video.
