Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox Returning to Transformers? The Truth Behind the Buzz

Michael Bay is reportedly back to helm a new Transformers, per Puck News—sparking feverish buzz that Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox might roll out again as Sam Witwicky and Mikaela Banes. Nothing’s locked yet, but the hype engine is redlining.

Well, here we go again. Michael Bay is reportedly firing up a brand-new Transformers movie, and if you just heard the faint sound of an explosion in the distance, that was probably Bay texting someone about golden-hour lens flares. The bigger question fans are already chewing on: does this bring back Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox, or are we just revving the old engine for a nostalgic lap?

So... Bay might be back

Per Puck News, Michael Bay has set the wheels in motion to direct a new Transformers film and personally tapped Jordan VanDina (The Binge) to write the script. That’s notable because Bay is the one reaching out here, not just cashing a studio call. His first five Transformers movies hauled in about $4.3 billion worldwide, so you can see why Paramount would pick up the phone.

Last time out, Transformers: The Last Knight stumbled to $605 million in 2017, and the studio pivoted to fresh voices and a lighter tone with Bumblebee and then Rise of the Beasts. The box office since then has been... fine, but not what it was under Bay’s watch.

What about Shia and Megan?

Nothing is confirmed. Rumors are swirling that Shia LaBeouf’s Sam Witwicky and Megan Fox’s Mikaela Banes could re-enter the chat, and fan accounts (including influencer Matt Ramos, aka @therealsupes, on Instagram) are definitely fanning the flames. But there are some real hurdles here.

LaBeouf hasn’t exactly been nostalgic about his Autobot years. In 2018, he told Esquire the Transformers films were irrelevant to him now, which doesn’t scream 'sign me up.' There’s also the messy canon issue: The Last Knight heavily implied Sam is dead when Sir Edmund Burton tells Vivian Wembley she’s the last surviving member of the ancient Witwiccan line. Is that ironclad? Not necessarily. But it’s not a clean setup for a triumphant return either.

Fox might be an easier swing, even with the drama. She famously blasted Bay in a Wonderland interview years ago, calling him a nightmare to work for and even comparing his on-set style to Hitler. Later, though, she also went out of her way to say she’s always had a real affection for him, describing him as vulnerable, likable, and someone she clashes with because they’re both stubborn and strong-willed. Translation: complicated, but not impossible.

The box-office road so far

Here’s the franchise trajectory, just to remember where things peaked and where they didn’t. (Numbers are worldwide, approximate.)

• Transformers (2007) — about $709 million
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) — $836 million
• Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) — $1.123 billion
• Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) — $1.105 billion
• Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) — $605 million
• Bumblebee (2018) — $468 million
• Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023) — $441 million
• Transformers One (2024) — $129 million (to date)

Does Bay need Transformers... and vice versa?

Since stepping away, Bay’s results have been mixed. 6 Underground was noisy enough to rattle Netflix’s servers but got torched by critics. Ambulance earned solid reviews but didn’t pack theaters. Meanwhile, without Bay at the helm, this franchise’s ticket sales drifted from 'runaway freight train' to 'steady commuter line.' A reunion might be exactly what both sides need, if it doesn’t just repeat the greatest hits without a new hook.

The Shia-and-Megan of it all

Because someone will ask: yes, that chemistry was real. LaBeouf said back in 2011 (to Details, via HuffPost) that the spark with Fox on set was genuine, a thing they kept to themselves at the time. And in 2018, Fox ended the speculation on Watch What Happens Live:

'I would confirm that it was romantic. I love him. I have never been really quiet about that. I love him.'

She’s also spoken warmly about Bay since their very public falling-out, saying she’s always loved him even if they clash. So, could this squad reunite? It’s not impossible. But at this point, it’s pure speculation, not a plan.

Where this leaves us

Bay is reportedly back in the driver’s seat with a writer he chose, and the franchise probably wouldn’t mind his brand of metal-on-metal mayhem again. Whether that also means LaBeouf and Fox show up is another story entirely. If Paramount does go full throwback, the nostalgic pop could be massive. If not, the series needs a fresh angle that feels like more than a warmed-over victory lap.

In the meantime, if you want to revisit the good old days: the first two Transformers movies are streaming on Paramount+.