G.I. Joe, Micronauts, and M.A.S.K. Will Form Part of Hasbro Movie Universe

Having a popular movie and a few sequels isn't enough for most Hollywood studios these days. Cinematic universes are the key to an ongoing, multiplatform financial success. Marvel, DC, and Star Wars are the most obvious examples of successful movie universes, with the likes of Harry Potter, Fast and Furious, Transformers, and Universal's monster movies all waiting in the wings. It has now been announced that toy giant Hasbro is teaming up with Paramount to launch a franchise based on the former's popular toy lines.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the deal will see a series of interconnected movies featuring such iconic properties as G.I. Joe, Micronauts, Visionairies, M.A.S.K., and ROM. The two companies are already planning a wider franchise around the Transformers brand, with no fewer than four more films and a possible TV show in the works.

Paramount chairman and chief executive Brad Grey spoke about the new deal, saying: "Paramount and Hasbro have had a longstanding relationship, and we're proud of the success we've enjoyed on the Transformers and G.I. Joe franchises. We're excited to grow our agreement and make even more movies based upon these popular and powerful Hasbro characters and their worlds."

To date there have been two GI Joe films--2009's G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and 2013's G.I. Joe: Retaliation--which have made more than $678 million worldwide. Micronauts and ROM also featured as Marvel comic books in the 1980s, while M.A.S.K was adapted into a DC book and an animated show that ran for two seasons from 1985.

The fifth Transformers film is set for release in 2017. This week it was confirmed that Mark Wahlberg would return to star.