Just when we thought director Michael Bay is stepping away from the “Transformers” franchise for real, he told Rolling Stone in a recent interview that he would helm the 5th film.
However, he also said that this will be the last time he’s directing a movie based on the popular Hasbro franchise.
As we’ve previously reported, Hasbro Studios and Paramount Pictures are planning to develop 4 more live-action sequels for the “Transformers” franchise.
Several high-profile scribes including Robert Kirkman, Art Marcum, Matt Holloway, Jeff Pinkner, Zak Penn, Geneva Robertson-Dworet, and Steven Deknight were hired to form a writer’s room and pen the scripts for the franchise.
Bay was supposed to serve as a producer for the next “Transformers” movie, with a new director taking over the mantle.
But after much deliberation, it’s been decided that Bay will return to the director’s chair. He confirmed it himself while promoting his upcoming war film “13 Hours” in an interview with Rolling Stone.
“The movie industry has really changed. The middle-(budget) movie is basically gone. They just want these big movies,” he said.
He added:
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Transformers, I still have a great time. It’s fun to do a movie that 100 million people will see. But this is the last one. I have to pass the reins to someone else.
According to Rolling Stone, Bay expressed a similar sentiment before helming “Transformers: Dark of the Moon (the 3rd film)” and “Transformers: Age Of Extinction“ (the 4th film).
In response to that, Bay admitted:
I know. J.J. (Abrams) told me, “You’re the only guy that could do this.” But it’s time to move on. One more.
Paramount has yet to announce the official cast members of the 5th “Transformers” film, but Mark Wahlberg, who starred in the 4th film in the lead role, confirmed in an interview with CinePop that he will be returning to the franchise.
There’s no title for the upcoming “Transformers” film as well, but “Black Hawk Down” screenwriting trio Marcum, Holloway, Nolan will pen the screenplay.
So, are you excited about Bay returning to the franchise? Do you think that the next “Transformers” film is going to be great? Let us know in the comments box below.
Sources: Variety, Rolling Stone.
