If You Thought 'Transformers 5' Was Bad, Michael Bay Has 14 More Movies Planned Out
In fact, a spin-off and a sequel is already in works for a 2018 and 2019 release respectively.
By Samantha Khor — 03 Jul 2017, 02:43 PM
I wanted to like 'Transformers: The Last Knight'. I really did. I've learnt not to have expectations when it comes to Michael Bay and nor do I think he's the devil incarnate, but this one was just... a convoluted mess.
You'd think a movie with sentient robots and explosions would be entertaining at the very least, but I gotta agree with its 15% Rotten Tomatoes score and the critics' opinions on this one.
For a 2.5-hour long movie, it did not do its plot nor many characters justice. There was too much "story" going on, too much unnecessary talking and one-liners that do absolutely nothing to drive the plot nor flesh out the new characters, and I had so many questions afterwards because (a) there were so many plot holes and (b) I lost the plot 20 minutes in tbh I was SO BORED.
Not that bad reviews are stopping the 'Transformers' franchise anytime soon, because there's more where that came from.
In an interview with MTV, Bay revealed that the 'Transformers' writers' room had already mapped out 14 stories - FOURTEEN! - stories for future spin-offs and sequels.
Put together in 2015 to expand the billion-dollar franchise, the 'Transformers' writers' room consists of Akiva Goldsman ('I Am Legend', 'A Beautiful Mind'), Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari ('Ant-Man'), Art Marcum & Matt Holloway ('Iron Man'), Robert Kirkman (creator of 'The Walking Dead'), Zak Penn ('The Avengers', 'X-Men 2'), Ken Nolan ('Black Hawk Down'), Geneva Robertson-Dworet (2018's 'Tomb Raider'), Christina Hodson ('Shut In'), Lindsey Beer ('Barbie'), Jeff Pinkner ('Alias', 'Lost').
While this does not mean that all 14 stories will hit the big screen, as not all ideas will go into development, two 'Transformers' movies have already been announced for 2018 and 2019
First up, a spin-off is set to go into production in July 2017, focusing on a younger-age Bumblebee in the 1980s. Hailee Steinfeld ('Pitch Perfect 2', 'The Edge of Seventeen') has been confirmed to star alongside the yellow Autobot in the prequel. Titled 'Transformers Universe: Bumblebee', the film is set to be released on 8 June 2018.
A sequel to the main universe is also in the works, with 'Transformers 6' slated for a 28 June 2019 release.
Bay has said that he might not be returning to the director's seat for future 'Transformers' films... although he has implied the same thing for years, so we're gonna take it with a pinch of salt
In an interview with Rolling Stone in January last year, Bay said, "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."
Rumours that Bay will be leaving the franchise have been swirling since Shia LaBeouf - star of the first three instalments - told MTV News in 2011 that he will not be returning for a fourth movie and said, "I don't think [Michael Bay] will either." Bay also told Slashfilm that he wants "to leave this franchise as best I can".
Obviously that wasn't the case, as Bay returned to helm 'Transformers: Age of Extinction' in 2014. Then he told USA Today, "There’s kind of a new chapter, a new direction in movies I want to make. I have a lot of stories to tell. And it’s about flexing new muscles," which also made it seem like he was gonna quit the franchise then.
In the meantime, Bay will not be directing the Bumblebee prequel. Instead, the spin-off will be helmed by Travis Knight, who directed the underrated and truly fantastic animated film 'Kubo and the Two Strings'.
This will also be Knight's first live action film.
Paramount Pictures are also currently looking for a new director for 'Transformers 6'.
'Transformers: The Last Knight' is currently still gallivanting with King Arthur in cinemas nationwide. Watch the trailer here: