 The movie was being produced by the same company, and at the same  time, as _Transformers: The Movie, The (1986)_ (qv). It had been  agreed that both movies would suffer the loss of the lead heroes,  Optimus Prime and Duke. Production had begun on G.I. Joe first, and  was thus expected to be released first. During the production of the  two films, G.I. Joe Got held up while Transformers finished  production. Release dates were changed and Transformers got a  theatrical release in 1986. Optimus Primes death sparked some  controversy and caused the writers to change Dukes death to a coma.  G.I. Joe never got to the theaters, and was released to video  instead. Had G.I. Joe been released first, Optimus Prime might have  survived the movie.