Michael Kelly gives an uncertain response to the future of theTransformersfranchise following itsG.I. Joecrossover tease in the final moments ofRise of the Beasts. The 2023 sequel saw the Autobots face two new Cybertronian factions locked in combat over an artifact that could either bring them home, or lure devastating destruction to Earth. Kelly portrayed Agent Burke inTransformers: Rise of the Beasts' ending, who makes his first appearance in the final moments of the movie to recruit Anthony Ramos' Noah into the organization following his fight against Unicron and the Predacons.
Despite a year passing since audiences were teased with a new corner of theTransformersuniverse, Kelly has revealed toPeoplethatthe future of the franchise may not be guaranteed. The actor revealed that while his sequence was a last-minute addition to reshoots, he had been told that he may be called upon to reprise his role in the future:
They shot the film, and then they were doing reshoots, and they added what was going to be a post-credits [scene]. One of those little pop-up things. And then they’re like, ‘No, we’re going to make that the end of the movie.’ I was like, ‘Really?!’ So even that happened after we shot it. It was pitched to me as a post-credit thing that if we move forward, we’d like your character to do that world.
Despite this, Kelly stated that he had heard nothing since, leaving him to wonder whether he had been removed from both franchises, orwhether any futureTransformersandG.I. Joecrossover would go ahead at all. However, the actor is eager to return and is overall pleased with the part he played in expanding the franchise. Check out the rest of what he said below:
That being said, I haven’t heard anything since. So maybe they either didn’t like what I did, or they’re not doing it, or I don’t know. I haven’t heard anything yet. Hopefully, I do. Because I would love to. I mean, again, that goes [back to me] as a kid – to be the guy who’s responsible, even in a way if they could move forward, even without me, it’s like, I was able to introduce the crossover of those two worlds.
What Kelly’s Comments Mean For The TransformersFranchise’s Future
Box Office Numbers May Hamper Plans
When looking at Kelly’s Burke,the character was largely undefined despite the intended impact of his roleinTransformers: Rise of the Beasts’ending. “Burke” was established as a cover, but the true G.I. Joe member behind the figure was kept largely unremarkable intentionally, lacking any trademark qualities of any established role. While this can leave the character open to be any character future writers may wish, it, unfortunately, leaves it so that “Burke” could be a supporting character, meaning despite his appearance implications, Kelly may not play a major role going forward.
Who Is Agent Burke? Transformers Rise of the Beasts' G.I. Joe Character Explained
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts ends with the huge reveal of a G.I. Joe crossover, but who is Agent Burke who recruits Noah Diaz to the organization?
Furthermore, while Derek Conolly was recruited to write the nextTransformersinstallment,Rise of the Beastsand the recently releasedTransformers Oneunderperformed at the box office, in spite of both garnering generally favorable reviews from audiences and the latter getting critical acclaim. As such, the issue may not lie with Kelly despite his concerns, and instead bethe studio is wary of how to move forward and reinvigorate both franchises.
Our Thoughts On Kelly’s Transformers & G.I.Status Update
The Crossover Will Have To Overcome Several Hurdles
Introducingthe world ofG.I. Joeinto the world ofTransformersis no small task, despite any set-upRise of the Beastsmay have established. Even though recent releases in the franchise have been an undeniable success,the Joes have had past difficulties in making the leap into live-action, meaning any future would have to overcome any preconceptions of the series a viewer may have.
All Upcoming Transformers Movies Explained
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts arrived in 2023, and that set the table for several more movies in the franchise that will arrive down the line.
As such, while Kelly may be eager to go, it is undeniable that the franchise’s past and the box office performances ofTransformers: Rise of the BeastsandTransformers Onemay have left creatives and studio heads wary. While more time may leave plenty of opportunities for creatives to give their best work, it could also hamper any hopes of Kelly’s return.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
Cast
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is a 2023 installment in the Transformers franchise where Optimus Prime and the Autobots join forces with the Maximals to counter a global threat. As Earth’s fate hangs in the balance, humans Noah and Elena aid the Transformers in a decisive battle to save humanity.
