Michael Bay is said to be officially back in discussions with Paramount about returning to the Transformers franchise.
The update comes as Bay parts ways with Netflix and Will Smith on the long-delayed action movie Fast and Loose.
Bay Drops Out of Fast and Loose
Fast and Loose was supposed to reunite Bay and Smith for the first time since Bad Boys, but creative differences ended the deal, according to Deadline. Bay wanted the film to be more action-heavy. Smith preferred leaning into the comedy.
Netflix is still aiming to shoot the project in October and is now looking for a new director. Smith remains attached to star as a man with no memory who uncovers he’s been living two lives, one as a cartel kingpin and one as a CIA agent.
Bay in Talks for New Transformers Movie
With Fast and Loose behind him, Deadline confirms the rumors that Bay is now “discussing with Paramount a return to the Transformers fold with a new version of that tentpole.”
That lines up with recent reports claiming there are five different Transformers projects in development at the studio, including a possible G.I. Joe crossover and another live-action film from Transformers One director Josh Cooley.
Bay directed the first five Transformers movies from 2007 to 2017, which earned over $4 billion globally. While the later entries underperformed, Paramount is still betting on the franchise’s brand value, especially with the Skydance merger looming.
Bay’s Other Projects
In addition to Transformers, Bay is developing OutRun at Universal—a movie based on the classic video game. Sydney Sweeney is attached to star, with Bay producing alongside Brad Fuller. Jayson Rothwell is writing the script.
