In an interview with Rolling Stone, Michael Bay has confirmed to return as the Director of Transformers 5. The interview has also revealed a couple of concept work for the next movie.
“Between his producing duties and directorial work, Bay usually has a half-dozen projects going at once. Right now, in addition to 13 Hours, he’s doing post-production on the next Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which he’s producing and which is due in 2016, and pre-production for the next Transformers, which he’s directing for summer 2017. “I’m doing Transformers … 5, is it?” Bay says, temporarily losing track. He shakes his head. “I’ve taken on a lot of work.”
“The movie industry has really changed,” Bay says, apropos of nothing. “The middle-[budget] movie is basically gone. They just want these big movies.” (The irony of this statement goes unremarked-upon.) “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.”
I remind Bay that he said the same thing before each of the last two Transformers movies. “I know,” he says. “J.J. [Abrams] told me, ‘You’re the only guy that could do this.’ But it’s time to move on. One more.”
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Spoiler Warning: Fans who are sensitive to even minor spoilers are warned.
“I like to get up close,” he says, inching toward the monitor. The ILM guys appear onscreen. “Hey, Michael?” one says into the camera. “Are you crawling around on the floor?”
Finally, there’s Transformers. They show Bay an underwater rendering of a crash-landed alien spaceship, then a new dump-truck Transformer with a cloak. Neither are up to snuff. “Boy, I’ve got a lot of work to do,” Bay says, shaking his head. “I better finish this fucking 13 Hours movie.” He thanks ILM and kills the video link, then turns to me. “It’s not good when I’m not involved.” “
Hanzkaz
My problem with the films were the characterless characters (Marvel has a talking tree with a very limited vocabulary that has more personality than most of the cast of all four Transformers films) , the toilet humour, a Fallen who thought he was Palpatine, really bad writing, awful dialogue, characters who did have potential being barely introduced and suddenly killed off, writers who admitted they weren't too bothered about plot discrepancies and were basically just putting stuff in because they thought it was cool (basically 'Who cares, it's just a dumb movie'.), a Witwicky who seemed to run around screaming all over the place (I don't know any kids who'd want to be Sam), the Twins…….I'll stop there.
I didn't really have a problem with extra-violent Optimus – it's a big TF multiverse, there's even a Shattered Glass version of the character. I was even fine with Bumblebee, even though I genuinely suspect the beeping was due the writers not wanting to take on the challenge of writing dialogue for the hero's best robotic friend.
What I also found disappointing was that there was far better writing in the TV series' and even the comics . I was expecting something on that level for the movies. Instead we got something very different. When the makers of a Transformers movie refer to Brawl as Devastator, that's a bad sign.
I will say that the last Transformers movie was my favourite. There was less of Bay's 'trademark humor'. The Autobots did have personalities, this time, even if Drift was something of a caricature. I actually liked the human characters better, as well. There were still things that didn't seem to make sense, but then again they weren't supposed to.
I am really hoping that Hasbro's Writing Room makes a difference (there are some pretty competent writers in there). Michael Bay is good at what he does, and hopefully he should have better material to work with this time.
Perhaps, I'm being unreasonable, but when it comes to the Transformers movies, I want something better, and I won't accept that it can't be done.
Splendic
I know Bay's doing post on Turtles right now, and press for 13 Hours, but he comes across as being kind of "over" TFs here:
Michael Bay on Transformers 5, Spinoffs, and 13 Hours | Collider
I guess a lot of us would be after 10+ years.
All arguments aside, it feels like it'd be best for everyone if someone else helmed one. Hell if it was that much worse performing, you could always go back to him and hype the hell out of the reteam for #6.
Galvatross
I wanted to quote this because it is the truth, and I think way too many of us take Transformers far more seriously than it should be taken. I love Transformers; I'm even passionate about it. However, Transformers should have silly or goofy moments. It should have elements that aren't realistic. It's fine to not like things, but NOTHING Transformers should make us angry or pissed. We're talking about a brand that has featured Rumble turning into a tree, time travel to medieval times where Rumble collected a bunch of birtd crap, Dinobot Island, Perceptor turning into a relatively tiny microscope, Shadow Parasites, and Rhinox farting. And yet, people get enraged over toys and media based on them, as if they can never be satisfied or as if the very existence of a film or show is some abomination against Transformers.
Hollywood Hoist
I wish everyone knew that Everyone on this forum is on the same side, we're all here for Transformers, we just have differences in opinion of what is good or not.
Hollywood Hoist
Thanks for the clarification. My original quote is somewhat vague.
Beastwarsfan95
Great. Everyone gear up for over-the-top violence, gratuitous swearing and tons of tasteless sex jokes.
Oh, ya, and you may see a Transformer or two.
TFXProtector
No humans? lol Trust me, there will be humans in 5. These movies won't sell without humans in them, especially big name stars.
optimusprime42
i read there will be no humans in it… but i read mark wahlberg is returning with megan fox maybe shia
TFXProtector
How arrogant are you? Your words were a stepping stone, started my post, but my post was about more than just what you said. It was about all of what I talked about.
Way to discount my opinion and what I had to say. What a shitty way to interact with someone who has a point that differs from your's. I'll remember to do that next time when you post.
Oh wait, no I won't. That's why you're going on the block list.
Thank you. See, Blackrock? People DID read my post. It was more than just responding to you. Put that ego in check, chief.
Moy
Your words are gold.
Autovolt 127
So true.
EagleTron
Everybody should know that I meant to say movie theater intended movies, big budget movies and especially Transformers Live Action movies. We are on the same side here.
G.B. Blackrock
I was simply responding to your choice of words.
To someone who says "no one likes the films" or "everyone hates them"… yes, I agree with everything in your posts.
But "they can't be that hated" is a factually incorrect statement. I was trying to point out that the fact that many people love these films doesn't preclude the hatred that many people claim to have. These movies are that divisive.
G.B. Blackrock
Dude, way overlong response to a throwaway line. I was actually trying to be fair, despite my admitted disdain for the movies, by saying how they've been good for the franchise.
shellformer
It's literally a children's franchise, with an enormous toy industry supporting the films. If it was strictly for people above the age of 15 they wouldn't bother with a tie-in toyline yet mysteriously the film lines have massively outmatched Generations and whatever TV show lines happened at the same time.
I'm saying people will go and watch AoE because it looks cool and then also go and watch Fury Road because it looks cool. There is a huge difference in quality between these two despite both being the same genre but lots of people don't make a distinction. A lot of people will watch spectacle for the sake of spectacle without caring for whether it was done with skill. That explains why the Bay films can draw in large amounts of cash.
I'm not saying that every film must be educational or life-changing or any nonsense like that. I very much enjoyed Fury Road which is all about taking you for a ride, quite literally so. I'm simply pointing out that a film can be both spectacular and well done. Excusing a bad film with that it's spectacular is just tiresome.
Hollywood Hoist
However there are some films that the money is not the primary goal of the film. Sure everyone wants people to see their movie and for it to be successful, but it's not necessarily the primary reason that a film exists. When it comes to TF films, yeah, they are there to make moneyl
Hollywood Hoist
I wasn't saying there weren't people who hated the movies. Those who hate the movies are totally justified and I would never try to convince them to like them. There are some who hate the films who try to say NO ONE likes the films and that's where they are wrong.
I enjoy the movies, but I don't recommend them often to people who want a fun action film. I usually tell people that the TF films aren't that good, but I was entertained. I wouldn't recommend Citizen Kane to the average movie goer, though I personally think the film deserves it's place as one of the greatest films ever made.
Hollywood Hoist
Massive marketing doesn't automatically mean huge success. Look at Lone Ranger, John Carter, Jupiter Ascending. Most movies are directed to the teenage, young adult market, which is why almost no superhero movies are rated R. Battleship had a lot of similarities and was almost trying to emulate Bay's style and that certainly wasn't a big hit.
Avatar is a good movie. I found it memorable, I'm looking forward to seeing the sequels. It was an impressive feat for a film not based on any previous material to be the huge success that it was.
People don't need a degree in film appreciation to enjoy a movie. A film doesn't have to be a masterpiece to be entertaining. When it comes to films like Transformers, all that matters to most audience is, were they entertained.
I love watching movies that me think, but I also like movies that take me for a ride. I don't remember roller coasters or fire works displays, but they're sure fun at the time.
There is very little in the film world I haven't experienced or studied, but it doesn't change that my opinion of a movie is no more valid than any one else.
TFXProtector
*points to bold part* I don't think that's fair to say or even your call. There's something about the movies that calls out to each audience member, whether it's the humor, the characters, the special effects (that includes the bots themselves) or the cars used, there's something that draws people in. That doesn't mean they have bad taste or they're stupid, they can be quite the opposite, really.
Films like Transformers aren't meant to be anything more than eye candy with a bit of story mixed in. The first thing that comes to mind when I think of escapism. That's what people want: An escape from reality. Whether it's 10 minutes or 110, it's an escape for a little bit before having to go back to reality.
Anyone, of any creed, background, age, mentality, etc can appreciate taking a break for a moment and these movies allow that.
If they were thinking man movies, they'd be overblown more than they are, more boring than they tend to be and they'd be ripped apart for that as well. "It's too talky!" "It's too heady!" "It's just so downtrodden and sad!" "It's utter hopelessness, why does the truck guy robot keep trying to save us? Why?!"
This is the problem with Transformers.
The movies are enjoyed by ALL walks of life because they're ridiculous escapism. Kids want to be able to hang out with the Transformers, they want to be Sam, the hero and they love the flashy colors and loud explosions. The parents love that it's a way to entertain their kids for a while so they don't have to, and secretly…they like 'em a little bit too. The first movie? Mothers approved of it and said to take kids to see it. No joke.
This all started because of a businessman on a trip to Japan found a new toy to bring to the states. It started off as a TOY. A plaything. Things we discarded as a child, things we destroyed and didn't put much stock into as a kid. Neither did the parents.
Marvel made a comic book out of it with silly names such as Buster Witwicky, stories pertaining to the Carwash of Doom (Seriously?!) and a cartoon that was so full of camp, even Power Rangers said "Let's emulate that!" (and then they went overboard with it and far surpassed what TF was capable of.)
It's pretty hard to have respect and look at the whole thing with a straight face and say "Yeah, we can make a legitimate movie out of this!" Somehow they did, they also played to the franchise's strengths: Silliness, escapism, science FICTION, outlandish fantasy.
IDW tries to make the comics work, but I (and quite a few others) find them boring, too dark, too serious and not enough in step with what Transformers started out as.
The movies, while not perfect, are pretty much what you can expect from a franchise such as this.
Star Wars, for example, a saga that covers life and death, love and hurt, hope and fear, and by episode 7…joy. I go to those films because they're a story with colorful characters and a deeper meaning. Especially 7.
Transformers covers robots beating the everloving shit out of each other, blowing stuff up bigger and better than last time, with colorful characters (literally colorful) and puddle depth.
I have no desire to collect Star Wars. It's nice to look at, nice to visit, but it's exasperating because it takes you through all of the parts of the human condition. Transformers, I have an overwhelming desire to collect because they're fun, they're awesome toys and I don't need to think about the human condition for a few minutes while turning one of them from a robot to a dragon.
Just because someone likes Transformers doesn't mean they have bad taste, it just means they have a wide range when it comes to their taste. Plenty of intelligent and classy people went to see the Transformers films, they'd be outright offended if they saw your post.
People think the trend in horrible movies is because people are getting stupider and their lack of effort is leading to our personal destruction, but it's just not true. There are plenty of us from the older generations who have good taste, we just don't need heavy handed entertainment every time we walk into the theater or put a video on screen.
Some movies? Sure, Hollywood is going for the lowest common denominator, but in general, a lot of movies do try, even if they ultimately fail. Problem is, the films that are critically acclaimed are usually a mess in some fashion or another.
For example: Steven Soderburgh's Haywire. Critics LOVED it, it was one of their darlings, but it was an awful film. It was boring, the fight sequences, while brutal and eye catching, were few and far between and the mystery in the film wasn't all that thrilling in what was supposed to be a thriller. Did terribly at the box office.
Movies like Transformers just work simply because we want to see Saturday morning cartoons come to life and beat the piss out of each other. That's what it's always been basically, that's pretty much what it will continue to be. Go ahead and change it if you must, but don't be surprised if it blows up in our faces when it happens.
Sometimes a working formula shouldn't be messed with. Sometimes I think the movies even happening were a bad idea. I love the movie series, I do, so this is coming from someone who's an actual fan.
I think the movies shouldn't have been made. They've shown how truly UGLY the fandom is at heart. I've seen more horrible and vicious comments from the people in the fandom during the movie years than I ever have and I remember what the message boards were like back when they all opened for the first time. Bottalk, for example. I remember Renaud. Oh…do I. *shudders*
But the movie era? Pure and utter insanity with evil mixed in. Death threats, in fighting, belittlings, pretty much anything negative. I'm not sure it was worth it, even though the toys were cool.
EagleTron
They are right, movies are not made to make money!
300 hundred million is not good!
Being one of the most viewed movies of all times is not good.
NOT!