Could Michael Bay be back on board the Transformers franchise? Will there be two films? Is Jason Statham set to star?
Given that Dark Of The Moon earned north of $1bn worldwide, we suppose it was inevitable that toy merchant Hasbro would start thinking about making a fourth Transformers movie.
What was generally assumed, though, was that Dark Of The Moon would mark explosion king Michael Bay’s departure from the franchise, and that the next Transformers flick would see it undergo a reboot of sorts. But according to news floating in from the States – which comes to us via Bleeding Cool – this may no longer be the case.
Hasbro head Brian Goldner has reportedly been in talks with Bay, producer Steven Spielberg and studio Paramount about the next phase in the series. The result of those talks won’t be formally revealed for a few months yet, but the news that Bay’s even discussing the franchise is quite significant, given his insistence earlier this year that he was heading to less robot-strewn pastures.
Of course, the Transformers franchise has long been surrounded by excitable rumours. Series regular Tyrese Gibson sparked speculation about Steven Spielberg replacing Bay as director, while back in June, a mysterious Hollywood insider suggested that a fourth Transformers flick could see Jason Statham punching a Decepticon in the face.
It seems there may be something to the Statham rumours, too, although Variety reports that no offer has been made to him yet. But plans are afoot to possibly make the next two Transformers films back to back, potentially with The Statham starring.
While we cross our fingers with regards Statham's involvement, one thing is currently a certainty: that Transformers lead human Shia LaBeouf is officially out of the franchise. Mind you, if the series’ producers wave enough money under his nose, it’s just possible he’ll return after all.
We just hope that, if Bay is snagged back into the Transformers fold, he’ll still find time to film his small-scale passion project, Pain & Gain. Of course, it being a Bay movie, it’s not a subtle indie drama, but a dark comedy about a coterie of hulking, steroid-abusing criminals that’s been described as Point Break with bodybuilders.
More news on Transformers and the adventures of Michael Bay as we get them.
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