After his blockbuster stint with Marvel, Chris Hemsworth has set his sights on another big franchise. The Thor actor has lent his voice to the now-famous character of Optimus Prime from the Transformers film series in an animated film that is due to hit screens in September 2024. In addition, the actor will also reportedly be involved in a crossover Transformers/G.I. Joe film that is currently untitled.
But his association with the franchise could be a hit or miss commercially judging by the poor box office records of the last film Transformers: Rise of the Beasts which earned the dubious distinction of being the lowest grossing film of the series. It now remains to be seen if Hemsworth’s star power can change this fate.
Could Chris Hemsworth’s Transformers/G.I. Joe Crossover Film Spell Trouble For the Actor?
Australian superstar Chris Hemsworth is all set to light up the Transformers franchise this fall. The Marvel alum is the voice of the famous Optimus Prime in the animated film Transformers One that explores the rivalry between Prime and his friend-turned-rival, Megatron.
The actor is also reportedly in talks to star in a G.I. Joe/ Transformers crossover movie which is currently untitled as reported by Deadline. The idea for this collaboration was hinted during the end of Steve Caple Jr.’s Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts. It is unclear if Hemsworth will continue to play Optimus Prime in this film or if he would be cast as one of the G.I. Joe characters.
But looking at the confusing record of the Transformers films at the box office over the years, it is difficult to predict the fortunes of the crossover project. To put it into context, Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts became the lowest grossing film in the franchise with a total collection of just over $437 million despite earning a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 91% with audiences.
In contrast, 2017’s Transformers: The Last Knight which was viewed as a far inferior film judging by its Rotten Tomatoes audience rating of 43% and a critics rating of 16%, grossed over $600 million globally.
These figures therefore, may not give a clear picture with regard to the quality of the films in the franchise, which could then make difficult to predict the path that Hemsworth’s film could take at the box office even if it happens to be a stellar effort.
Chris Hemsworth Equated His Mad Max Role To Another Character Dear To His Heart
While audiences will always associate Chris Hemsworth with the mighty God of Thunder, Thor in the MCU, the Australian star has proved that he is no one-trick-pony when it comes to taking on challenging characters. In his latest film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, he shifted gears dramatically to transform himself into the villainous leader of a biker group named Warlord Dementus.
This film required the actor to tap into a dark and maniacal side which he embraced fully. The experience of shaping these complex aspects of a character that went beyond mere physicality made Hemsworth feel absolutely alive.
The Marvel alum revealed to Vanity Fair that his 2013 sports biopic Rush directed by Ron Howard was another role that made him feel this way. Speaking of portraying racing driver James Hunt, he said,
Ron took me out of that typecast space of the muscly action guy and let me play a character with complications and darkness. I remember thinking at the time, Oh, this is going to change everything. Yeah it’s been a long wait.
Despite Thor still being a huge part of his identity, it took Hemsworth a whole decade to experience the sensations that he had with Rush. Judging by his performance in George Miller’s Mad Max prequel, it looks like audiences have understood that the actor has much more to offer.
Transformers One will release in theaters on September 20th, 2024.
