Those damn Autobots and Decepticons will never stop fighting!
It’s no surprise that Paramount is making TRANSFORMERS 4. TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON made a gagillion dollars and is currently the fourth highest grossing film of all time. While another installment was expected, director Michael Bay said he wasn’t going to return. It had seemed that finally, after so many years, he had blown up enough stuff.
That’s no longer the case. Not only have Paramount announced a release date for TRANSFORMERS 4, they’ve announced that Bay will return to direct. I’m not sure what brought him back but I’m going to guess it’s a giant bag full of cash.
The most interesting bit of news regarding the sequel is that the fourth film will be a reboot of the franchise. That news come courtesy of producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura. Speaking with MTV, Lorenzo had this to say:
“Yeah Michael’s gonna direct and it’ll be releasing in the summer of 2014. We’re excited and I think the challenge there is we really are gonna do a reboot, and what that’s gonna be we don’t even know yet.”
He later clarified, saying it wasn’t a complete reboot but an “evolution“. That would mean new characters and a new story.
So let me get this straight: they’re re-imagining the franchise but they still want the same director in charge? Hm, doesn’t make sense to me. But what do I know?
I’ve included the official press release below, which also gives more information about Bay’s next project, PAIN AND GAIN. TRANSFORMERS 4 will open on June 29th, 2014.
Thanks to Collider for the MTV scoop.
FIRST UP FOR THE PROLIFIC FILMMAKER IS “PAIN AND GAIN” STARRING MARK WAHLBERG AND DWAYNE “THE ROCK” JOHNSON, FOLLOWED BY A NEW INSTALLMENT IN THE HUGELY POPULAR “TRANSFORMERS ” FRANCHISE, TO BE RELEASED ON JUNE 29TH, 2014
HOLLYWOOD, CA (February 13, 2012) – Paramount Pictures announced today that director Michael Bay has signed a two-picture deal with the studio, which will commence this spring with the filming of “Pain and Gain,” and will be followed by the next installment in the hit “Transformers” franchise.
Based on a true story, “Pain and Gain” follows a group of bodybuilders who engaged in a campaign of kidnapping, extortion and murder in Florida. First told in an article from the Miami New Times, “Pain and Gain,” will be directed by Bay and will star Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Expected to begin production in early spring, the movie’s producers include Bay, Donald De Line and Ian Bryce.
Following “Pain and Gain,” Bay will bring audiences a new take on the “Transformers” franchise as he begins production on the fourth installment in the hit series of movies based on the best-selling Hasbro toyline. The third, and most recent installment of the franchise, “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” is the fourth highest global grossing film of all time with 1.24 billion dollars of worldwide box office success. Directed by Bay, the movie will re-unite the filmmaking team from the hit franchise, including producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Don Murphy, Tom DeSanto and Ian Bryce; and executive producers Steven Spielberg, Bay, Brian Goldner and Mark Vahradian. Paramount Pictures will release the film on June 29th, 2014.
“Michael has been working on PAIN AND GAIN for a number of years but has patiently waited for the perfect casting to trigger a start,” said Adam Goodman, President of Paramount’s Film Group. “Clearly his patience has paid off as we couldn’t be more excited about this combo. His passion for this project is just awesome.”
