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Next 'Transformers' is Michael Bay's Last & Sets Up Franchise Future

by Ethan Anderton
June 6, 2012
Source: Hero Complex

Just in case you weren't aware, a new Transformers experience has arrived in the form of a 3D theme park ride at Universal Studios. The $100 million ride opened on May 24th, and those who were around for the grand opening have been ranting and raving about it. Meanwhile, audiences who aren't venturing to the theme park this year are eagerly anticipating a fourth installment in the film franchise directed by Michael Bay, who was confirmed to return for another sequel in February. However, Hero Complex has word from Bay that this fourth installment will be his last in the franchise, and he intends to pass the torch.

In a big rundown on the new theme park attraction, there's a brief blurb about the impending sequel:

There’s plenty more Transformer action to come with a major new video game release, “Transformers: Fall of Cybertron,” due in August and another Bay movie in the works. (The director, by the way, says that the fourth film will include some redesign of the robots and an entirely new cast. He also said it will be his last and set the franchise up “for the next guy.”)

Now, we've known about the new cast for awhile now as Shia LaBeouf has been confirmed to sit this one out, and other cast members like Josh Duhamel may not return either. Bay even said that this sequel would serve as a franchise reboot. However, this is the first word from Bay saying that he's setting up the franchise to be handed off to a new director, likely to round out another trilogy. Of course, no potential names were mentioned to replace Bay after this last sequel from the director of Armageddon and The Rock, but there's always a chance Bay could flip-flop yet again. Before he was confirmed for this fourth film, Bay had denied any involvement with the sequel at all until Paramount Pictures seemingly made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Honestly though, I'd like to see someone else take on the franchise and play around with the Autbots and Decepticons in a new way. How about you?

Filed under Development, Movie News

From around the web:

Normstar2k

Thinking about it, if they are changing the cast, they could feasibly be going for the storyline of Transformers: The Movie. With the exception of a couple of the Transformers, it's almost a completely different line-up. I would sell my legs for Michael Bay to make a virtually shot-for-shot remake of the original. I'm one of the few who genuinely enjoyed almost every moment of his trilogy so far (on these message boards at least - I presume there are others, seeing as someone is spending all that cash but the original would be so good if it were updated. It would bring in the dinobots, other good characters like Hot Rod and Ultra Magnus, not to mention giving Michael Bay the chance to literally rip apart a planet with Unicron. What's not to like?! (note - that was rhetorical, please do not tell me what there is not to like!).
- http://www.facebook.com/mcrorey Michael McRorey
  
  I too would love to see a shot-for-shot remake of the original 'Transformers: The Movie'. i saw it in the theater and still watch it on dvd today. It still holds up after all these years.
- Lagoya
  
  So you enjoyed the racist, steretypical Twins and Devastators balls? I liked the first but thought the second one was shit!
  - Normstar2k
    
    Yup. I thought the gag about Devastator's balls was silly but I chortled. I found the Twins to be throwaway, stereotypical characters no worse than those seen in many other films. If we're gonna get into racism, lets talk about The Dark Knight, where the white american guy is incredibly rich and saves the day whilst all the other villains except Joker are portrayed as ethnic minorities or immigrants (For reference, I'm being sarcastic. I thought I'd mention it, seeing as you aren't bright enough to spell "stereotypical" or use an apostrophe correctly). P.S. Have a nice day, I'm really not into this flamewar crap.
David Darida

I am glad that he is already making movies not related to the robots...(ie. Pain and Gain)
loser

Wes Anderson
http://www.facebook.com/StromboliSyndrome Steven Morgan

I am sorry Michael Bay but do not do set up for the next guy let the next guy do their own thing. You did well in Transformers 1, Transformers 2 and 3 were just light shows with little substance. When the next director is already working with transformers leave him some creative freedom. I hope to see a more serious Beast wars on screen if that is possible but it may never be...
Xerxexx

No.
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ5hK-D8kRQ Crapola
  
  I second that. No x 10.
  - Jericho
    
    i third it. No x 20
    - Kennard Weatherall
      
      One millionth that also...
      - Lagoya
        
        No x Googolplex
      - http://www.facebook.com/people/David-Smith/100000084294412 David Smith
        
        ^ This
http://www.fusedfilm.com/ Michael Lee

And by setting up he means he is putting the bar lower than before.
Nielsen700

Maybe he'll finally do Bad Boys 3.
OfficialJab

"audiences who aren't venturing to the theme park this year are eagerly anticipating a fourth installment in the film franchise" Don't really have your finger on the pulse of the fanbase there, Ethan. I'm excited though. I don't see why people hate them so much. Getting a new cast is a great idea, but I hope that they get Linkin Park back on board.
mooreworthy

I remember showing my then three yr old nephew the first trailer. He has been hooked ever since. From games, books and you know, toys. Its not brilliant film making, but its a bond we share that ill gladly continue with him. Crappy as it may get.
- SuicidalOptimist
  
  Oh yeah, these movies are so much fun for kids. I can't wait for my son to be old enough to watch them; I'll gladly suffer through them again if that means I get to enjoy the genuine wonder and glee on his face. =)
  - mooreworthy
    
    That's going to be awesome.
SuicidalOptimist

I'd be lying if I said I didn't like the first movie, and I still think that an oscar for SFX/animation/CGI would have been well deserved. There is no denying the robots looked absolutely amazing in every one of the three movies, shitty scripts and bad acting aside; the Transformers truly looked fantastic. The biggest problem with all of the movies for me was that unnecessary dwelling on stupid, corny and mostly boring human story lines. More fighting robots, less shitty ass romance and forced comedy would have made them better, imo. Anyways, at this point I'm glad it's over.
Isildur_of_Numenor

I think he will also do the fifth. I mean, he said the same thing after the third one - that he will not be directing the fourth because he needs something new, a change. Time will tell...
http://twitter.com/davide_coppola Davide Coppola

Let Tarsem take over the franchise so that the autobots can wear funny hats No, but seriously I'd love to see an auteur direct the next TF movies, even though it's not very realistic.. If I have to settle for a Hollywood director, who better than Zack Snyder? I actually don't mind if Bay stays a little longer..
Fsdf

please...no army, no stupid human heroes...just autobots and decepticons.
Sammickey

I still dont understand why is it Micheal Bay again. He is goona fuck up again. He is just gonna slow mo everything, chase everything on the highway, decepticons gonna be fugly.
- JohnMcBoss
  
  He is in too deep, I think he is trying to save face by knocking this one out of the park. Let's hope he succeeds.
Seangardner09

Bay already destroyed Transformers three times please don't "set it up" for another guy to destroy it too!