Summary
- The ending of "Transformers 7" suggests a potential crossover between Transformers and G.I. Joe, making a John Cena Bumblebee theory possible.
- John Cena's character in "Bumblebee" had sparked speculation that he could be a secret G.I. Joe, leading to the theory of a shared Hasbro universe.
- While the producer initially debunked the theory, there is still a possibility for a retcon and for John Cena to return to the Transformers franchise in a crossover with G.I. Joe.
Transformers 7 makes a G.I. Joe reveal in its ending moments, which makes a John Cena Bumblebee theory possible. Taking place seven years after the Autobots first landed on Earth in Bumblebee, Transformers: Rise of Beasts centers on Noah Diaz, a former US military electronics expert. After struggling to stay afloat and keeping up with the growing expenses of his brother's medical issues, Noah decides to start jacking cars for a living. However, what marks the beginning of an unethical profession for Noah soon turns his life around when it leads to his first encounter with the Autobots.
ing forces with the Autobots, Noah Diaz, and another human, Elena, race against time and set out on a globe-trotting adventure to find the Transwarp key. Towards Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' ending, not only does Noah save the world with the Autobots but also lands a job offer from the G.I. Joe. This twist toward Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' closing moments sets up a potential Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover, making one exciting John Cena Bumblebee theory a possibility.
John Cena's Bumblebee Character Agent Burns Was Theorized To Be A Secret G.I. Joe
In 2018's Bumblebee, John Cena plays Agent Jack Burns, the head of sector 7, who s forces with the Decepticons to find Bumblebee on Earth. Although John Cena's character was a secondary antagonist in the movie, the ending showed how he had a change of heart after he witnessed Bumblebee's bravery and willingness to put his life on the life to save a human. He even calls Bumblebee a soldier out of respect and salutes him. This scene made audiences speculate that John Cena's character could be a secret G.I. Joe, and his appearance in Bumblebee could mark the beginning of a Hasbro shared universe.
A Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover had been in the talks for a long time at Paramount Studio, making this theory all the more plausible. In an interview for Bumblebee, John Cena himself opened up about his opinions on this theory. He said that although he is unaware of any such crossover plans in the franchise, he would love to be a part of it if given the opportunity. While John Cena's insights did not confirm anything, it proved that he would be the perfect casting choice for portraying Duke in a potential Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover movie, making the mere prospect of the theory all the more exciting.
Transformers' Producer Debunked The John Cena/G.I. Joe Theory Before
Unfortunately, even though John Cena was eager to return to the Transformers franchise after Bumblebee, the franchise's producer, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, debunked the theory. He said that he understood where the theory stemmed from but sadly had to deny it. To end things on a hopeful note, however, Bonaventura highlighted that John Cena "is fantastic" and that he would like to bring him back to the franchise. The producer's comment on John Cena's involvement in the Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover suggests that the former WWE star may still have a shot at returning to the franchise.
Transformers & G.I. Joe Crossover Means A John Cena Retcon Can Happen
Transformers producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura shut down the fan theory by denying that John Cena's Bumblebee character could be Duke from G.I. Joe. However, the fact that the producer would still like to reinstate John Cena into the franchise suggests there is room for a retcon. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' ending has already established that a shared G.I. Joe and Transformers universe exists. While the movie does not delve into the details of how the Joes first learned about the Autobots, a retcon could reveal how John Cena's Burns was among the first G.I. Joe agents to come in with Cybertronians and understand their nature.
Since Burns understands that Autobots like Bumblebee are the good guys while Decepticons are the bad ones, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' sequels could retcon his role in the franchise's overarching storyline and highlight how he convinced the Joes to forces with the Autobots. This would be even more plausible given how Agent Burns understood the true motives of the Decepticons in Bumblebee and would want military forces like G.I. Joe to form an alliance with the Autobots to avoid future threats from the Decepticons. Considering that the John Cena retcon already creates space for so many potential narratives after Transformers 7, it is hard to imagine the Transformers & G.I. Joe crossover without him.
