After the Michael Bay directed Transformers: Dark of the Moon surpassed the $1 Billion mark in worldwide box office receipts and became the first movie in Paramount Pictures‘ long history to do so, I don’t think anyone truly thought the third film in the franchise would be the last.
As Variety reports, Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner said that the company is in “active discussions” with Paramount, Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg about a fourth Transformers. Shia LaBeouf will definitely not return as Sam Witwicky in future films, and though no formal offer has been made, insiders close to the production are echoing previous rumors that Jason Statham may be a possible replacement for LaBeouf.
Screenwriter Ehren Kruger, who wrote both Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Transformers: Dark of the Moon is said to have an idea for two sequels, and Hasbro is considering a plan to shoot a fourth and fifth installment back-to-back. Bay will reportedly serve as an executive producer for the project(s) alongside Steven Spielberg, and though the director had previously said the third film would be his last, sources close to the development are saying that he is still interested in directing.
[Update]
While speaking with MTV, actor Jason Statham denied the rumors of him being cast for any future Transformers films:
“You know, I don’t know how those things start. You read them. Someone told me about it. [But] the internet is a dangerous place,” he laughed. “There’s a lot of stuff out there.”
“I’ve got a lot of stuff in front of me, but Michael Bay is a talented man. This last one just made a billion dollars around the world, so people like his films. He’s a talented man.”
Michael Bay took to his own site to deny being in talks about directing 4 and 5:
“I am currently not talking to Paramount on T4 and T5 despite reports. I’m looking at a lot of possibilities coming my way right now weighing options. Most likely going to be doing the low budget Pain and Gain, a true story crime thriller. It’s a very quick shoot and quite funny. Also just finishing the 3 disc set of the Transformers trilogy.”
No production or release dates have been announced for Transformers 4 or Transformers 5.
