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Michael Bay Says 'Transformers 4' Not a Reboot and Headed to Space

by Ethan Anderton
June 21, 2012
Source: Hero Complex

Don't call it a reboot! They've been here for years! At least that's what Michael Bay is saying with some comments made to Hero Complex that seem to negate what he recently told the same outlet. In his most recent pile of talk about Transformers 4, Bay explains that the new sequel is not a reboot, despite that fact that it will have a whole new cast, sets up the series for a new director and all that jazz. Though, I suppose for it to be a true reboot, they would have to start from scratch, and that's not the case with Optimus Prime and some of the other Transformers returning for the fourth film in the series. More below!

Bay explains what can already be assumed from his denial:

It’s not a reboot, that’s maybe the wrong word. I don’t want to say reboot because then people will think we’re doing a Spider-Man and starting from the beginning. We’re not. We’re taking the story that you’ve seen — the story we’ve told in three movies already — and we’re taking it in a new direction. But we’re leaving those three as the history. It all still counts. I met with the writer before I went off to do ‘Pain and Gain’ and we talked about a bunch of ideas. We let that simmer for a bit. He’s been thinking about stuff and now we’re getting back together next week to see what we’ve got and to see if it gels.

In addition, Bay says we'll be dealing with a new frontier for the Autobots as at least part of the story will take our heroes to space. Sure some of the villains came from the moon last time, but it sounds like we might get some action actually in outer space this time. When questioned about the prospect, Bay said:

I think so, yeah, a little. That feels like the way to go, doesn’t it? I want to go a little off but I don’t want to go too sci-fi. I still want to keep it grounded. That’s what works in these movies, that’s what makes it accessible.

And despite the fact that this isn't being referred to as a reboot, at least by Bay, he does reiterate that he's getting ready to pass the baton to a new director:

Here’s the thing, it’s tough to find someone who’s done these kind of movies and to have the complication of creating the new stuff that needs to be in this movie – not just characters but a new type of action, I hope – and that’s a lot for someone new to bite off. And so after this one I will leave it in the best hands possible. That’s the plan.

Of course, he's going to be setting up the next guy with a film that will cost about $30 million less than Transformers: Dark of the Moon. That's likely not enough to cripple Bay's flights of explosive fancy, but it could prove to be a challenge. The question is just what kind of human characters we're going to deal with now that Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) and his government friends won't be involved. And how will they come into play with the space portion of the story? Well, hopefully we'll get some more details sooner than later, and we'll do our best to keep you updated.

Filed under Development, Movie News

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