With last week’s news that Hollywood could be on the verge of some sort of a Gobots renaissance, commenter “plow” beat me to the punch in suggesting that a better idea would be a M.A.S.K. film. In case you don’t remember, the story of the Mobile Armored Strike Kommand aired in syndication from 1985 to 1988, and it was your classic merchandising stunt to get kids to beg their parents for the M.A.S.K. toys, which were some of the coolest toys ever made in the 80s. However, with only 75 episodes in the series run, M.A.S.K. would make about as much sense as a Gobots movie, that is, unless… another already-huge movie franchise brought the task force on board with it.
According to a new rumor brought to us by Film Divider, the third installment of the inconsistent and cartoonish G.I. Joe film franchise will not only feature arguably the two coolest characters from the cartoon and action figures…
We understand that the villains this time will be Tomax and Xamot, mainstays of the Sunbow cartoon series and the Marvel comics. This pair are, according to their original backstories, Corsican twins who worked as mercenaries before becoming merchant bankers.
Through their company, Extensive Enterprises, the twins act as the acceptable face of Cobra. They manage the terrorist organization’s business affairs as well as lead their elite Crimson Guard force. It seems like they’d be able to fill in nicely for the second film’s imprisoned Destro. (Via Film Divider)
… but director D.J. Caruso and Co. will be dipping back into the Hasbro well to bring aboard the leader of M.A.S.K.
According to the studio’s current plans, Matt Trakker will be stepping up onto the big screen. he was the lead character of MASK, or Mobile Armoured Strike Kommand, a Kenner toy line and cartoon from the ‘80s.
Trakker joining GI Joe suggests that MASK will be introduced either in this film, set up for a sequel, or possibly be established for their own spin-off. It’s easy to see why Hasbro and Paramount would like this idea.
The crossover was established in the toy lines too. When Hasbro purchased Kenner they folded the series together and a new Trakker action figure was released, reinventing him in the guise of a GI Joe mission specialist. (Via Film Divider)
Look, let’s be clear about something – even with Channing Tatum as the star and Joseph Gordon-Levitt playing Cobra Commander, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra was not a good movie. “Killing” C-Tates off and having The Rock go on a rampage with Bruce Willis in Retaliation really wasn’t much better. Obviously, they’ve grossed a combined $700 million worldwide at the box office, so Paramount and Hasbro will keep making these movies as long as the synergy is alive and well. Maybe, just maybe, the key to finally making these movies fun in the best way (read: stupidly ridiculous) is to just go all-in with the product placement and knock us out with nostalgia.
So screw it, let’s just get the Gobots in this one, too.
