Remember That $600M Transformers Flop? Michael Bay's Making Another One
Like it or not, Bay might be back behind the camera. And for a studio chasing another billion-dollar hit, that's probably exactly what they want.
Michael Bay directed five Transformers movies. Critics hated them, fans argued over them, and they still made a ridiculous amount of money. Even the "flop" — The Last Knight — grossed $605 million. The biggest one made $1.1 billion.
Bay stepped away after that 2017 entry underperformed, and since then, the franchise has cooled off. Bumblebee and Rise of the Beasts had better reviews but couldn't match Bay-era box office. The latest, Transformers One, didn't do much either.
Now? He's coming back.
According to Puck (via SFFGazette), Bay approached Paramount last year about returning as producer — and possibly director. He's now developing a new Transformers film, with Jordan VanDina writing the script. VanDina's credits include SuperMansion, Animaniacs, and the upcoming Dodgeball 2.
This is just one of five separate Transformers projects in the works. If Paramount's sale to Skydance goes through, David Ellison will inherit the whole slate. Also in development:
- A live-action project from Transformers One director Josh Cooley
- A possible G.I. Joe/Transformers crossover
- Two other untitled ideas in early stages
Bay recently reflected on the 2007 Transformers film while promoting Ambulance, saying:
"It was scary. We didn't know if the technology would work… but it was successful. It broke a lot of new ground."
He also admitted what everyone already suspected:
"I made too many of them… Spielberg said, 'Just stop at three.' And I said I'd stop. Then the studio begged me to do a fourth — that made a billion too. Then they begged me again. I should've stopped."
Still, after a long break, Bay's apparently ready to blow up more cities with robot cars. No timeline yet — Paramount just needs one of these projects to be in production by 2029 to keep the rights.