New Transformers and G.I. Joe Crossover Set to Complicate the Transformers Timeline

The upcoming film in the Transformers franchise promises an exciting crossover with G.I. Joe, a collaboration fans have long desired. Teased at the conclusion of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, this project is generating significant buzz, amplifying expectations for the future of Transformers beyond the narratives established in the previous Michael Bay movies.

Slated for release in either 2025 or 2026, this G.I. Joe/Transformers film will likely feature Anthony Ramos reprising his role as Noah Diaz. As the alliance between the Autobots and G.I. Joe develops, fans are left wondering about one pivotal aspect: the film’s placement within the existing Transformers timeline. Unfortunately, this crossover could potentially add more layers of confusion to an already muddled timeline.

Uncertainty Surrounds Transformers & G.I. Joe Timeline Placement

Paramount Has Yet to Confirm the Movie’s Timeline Position

A composite image of Snake Eyes next to The Rock with a Transformer — Custom Image by Simone Ashmoore

The primary concern regarding this upcoming film is its placement within the Transformers timeline. As of late 2024, Paramount has not revealed the exact timeline, leaving numerous possibilities. For example, the movie could be set in the 1990s and act as a direct follow-up to Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, featuring the return of Noah Diaz. Alternatively, it could leap to a different decade, as has become common in recent Transformers installments.

Another option is that the crossover occurs after the events of the Michael Bay movies. Notably, the conclusion of Transformers: The Last Knight hinted at a sequel involving Quintessa and Unicron. Given Unicron’s role in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, the G.I. Joe crossover could potentially connect these plots by setting itself after The Last Knight while reshaping the established timeline. Lastly, it’s also conceivable that this film operates independently of previous narratives, framing a standalone crossover adventure. Clarity on these details from the studio is essential moving forward.

The Transformers Franchise’s Timeline Has Been Increasingly Confusing Since Bumblebee

The Bayverse’s Sequence of Events Remains Ambiguous

Charlie and Bumblebee looking out at a sunset in Bumblebee

This ongoing confusion regarding the crossover’s timeline further emphasizes the disarray that has enveloped the Transformers narrative since 2018. The initial five live-action Transformers films followed a relatively straightforward structure, focusing on Sam Witwicky’s journey within clearly defined chronological gaps. Transformers: Age of Extinction acted as a soft reboot, introducing new human perspectives while being set several years post Transformers: Dark of the Moon.

Transformers: The Last Knight built upon the exiting story arcs, thus unifying these five films into a coherent narrative. However, the release of Bumblebee introduced complications. While it served as a prequel to the Bayverse—showing Bumblebee’s presence on Earth before the other Autobots arrived in 2007—it further muddied the waters with its ending scene featuring Optimus Prime and other Autobots from the 1980s.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts exacerbated these inconsistencies by occurring in the 1990s, which conflicted with the villainous narrative established in Transformers: The Last Knight. Adding to the confusion, the upcoming 2024 animated film, Transformers One, has also been labeled a prequel to the Bayverse.

The Transformers Franchise’s Attachment to the Bayverse Compounds Complications

A Clear Distinction Was Needed, But Remains Elusive

Overall, the persistent confusion can largely be attributed to one critical issue: the Transformers franchise’s inability to fully let go of the Bayverse. Initially branded as a standalone prequel, Bumblebee‘s ending contradicted its connection to the Bayverse, creating a paradox that left audiences perplexed.

If Paramount had chosen to distance itself from the Bayverse, crafting a new timeline entirely, the current complexities would have been significantly diminished. Following the release of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, questions still linger regarding whether this film is a sequel to Bumblebee in a distinct timeline or merely another prequel tied to the Bayverse.

By relinquishing ties to the Bayverse, the timeline inconsistencies surrounding the Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover could be resolved, allowing the film to rise above its most daunting challenge.

Source & Images