Though director Michael Bay seemed adamant that the third Transformers film, released just last summer to lukewarm reviews, would be his last, the 'splosion-loving director has signed up to helm the fourth film in the franchise.

Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura confirmed Bay's involvement to MTV, and announced a release date of summer 2014.

"Yeah Michael's gonna direct and it'll be releasing in the summer of 2014," said Bonaventura. "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."

Seeing as the Transformers franchise has always been a massive money-spinner for Bay (Dark Of The Moon made $1bn worldwide), it's not difficult to see why he'd be tempted to return for a fourth round of robots beating the crap out of each other.

That said, both 2009's Revenge Of The Fallen and last year's Dark Of The Moon received a critical drubbing, which is perhaps why the mega-director has decided to give the franchise a refresh.

We can probably count series regular Shia Labeouf out, then, so expect a new lead and a shiny new set of Autobots for the franchise that refuses to die with any dignity.

Transformers 4 will open in the USA on 29 June 2014. A UK release date has yet to be confirmed. Source: www.totalfilm.com

Michael Bay set for Transformers 4 [7th December 2011 00:00:00]

Fans of booming explosions, vomit-inducing quick-cuts and lingering cleavage shots rejoice, for Michael Bay is a whisker away from agreeing to do Transformers 4...

According to NY magazine, the director is in final negotiations with Paramount, with a deal expected to be announced imminently. The selling point for Bay is the possibility of a two-picture deal, in which the studio would also release Pain Or Gain, Bay's bodybuilding crime thriller.

Pain Or Gain follows the true story of a group of Miami bodybuilders who kidnapped, robbed and tortured a Florida businessman, only for their victim to hire a private eye to get him some revenge.

According to NY's source, "Without Pain, there's no tit for tat. That's Paramount's leverage." Or Bay's, depending on which way you look at it.

However, if the deal is signed, the next Transformers movie will not be a prequel as had previously been suggested. Indeed, another source suggests that the fourth movie will head deep into the Transformers canon to dig out some fan-pleasing new characters.

"Regular people might not care about bringing out a character like Sentinel Prime," says the source of one of

Dark Of The Moon's key players, "but believe me, fans of the series cared."

So Rosie Huntington-Whitely's career isn't dead after all, then! We always knew she was going to go far... Source: www.totalfilm.com

Transformers 4 and 5 may shoot back-to-back [19th October 2011 11:05:03]

When did all the movie news started being related?

Media reports claim that Transformers 4 will shoot back-to-back with Transformers 5. Plus, we have news on what Shia LaBeouf - who probably won't return for a fourth Transformers film - plans to do next. Spooky.

According to Variety, "sources close to the planning process" say two new Transformers films could be in production after Hasbro chief Brian Goldner revealed his company is in "active discussions" with Paramount, Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg.

Well, Transformers: Dark Of The Moon did bank more than $1bn at the global box office.

The article also claims that Jason Statham may be cast in a leading role, although it hasn't actually been offered to the actor yet.

Meanwhile, Shia LaBeouf - apparently free from his Transformers commitments - is set to become a giant.

The actor will play a 20-foot man in what AngeleFine Productions describes as, "A modern day adult dramatic fairy tale. A story of love and friendship between a rebellious young woman and the mysterious young man who lives in the shadows next door." The working title for the film is A Giant. We'd have preferred Honey I Blew Up LaBeouf. Source: www.totalfilm.com

Michael Bay in talks for fourth Transformers movie [17th October 2011 11:05:15]

Brian Goldner CEO of Hasbro has said the toy giant is in active discussions with studio partner Paramount about the fourth instalment in the Transformers film series.

Goldner said that Hasbro and Paramount are talking to directors Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg about returning to the franchise.

Bay and Shia LaBeouf have said the trilogy finale Dark of the Moon would be the last film in the series for both of them.

Shia LaBeouf told MTV "I'm not coming back to do another one. I don't think Mike [Bay] will either."

But Bay has gone back on his word before (slagging off 3D, then deciding it's brilliant, resolutely stating he won't do Transformers 3 and so on) so there's every chance he'll be back.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon was met with astonishing box-office results on release - especially considering the reviews - so we can see why Hasbro would want Bay back.

Whatever happens, it is clear we haven't heard the last from Optimus Prime and his metal mates. Source: www.totalfilm.com