So I actually kind of like Transformers 3*, and definitely feel like Michael Bay is a visual artist that I would rather have working than not. The thing is though… it took two films worth of bullshit for him to make a film unchained enough for me to appreciate, and at this point I’d really find it more fascinating for him to point his lens elsewhere. Fortunately he’ll be doing that with the decidedly more trim Pain and Gain with Marky Mark and The Rock next, but unfortunately it looks like the Hasbro paycheck is going to be big enough to drag him back to the robot franchise right after.
This news comes from Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, producer toy moves like ‘formers and G.I. Joe 2, who spoke at a Hasbro event and sort of shiftily teased Michael Bay’s involvement. It’s the sort of statement that seems like half-assed attempt at being vague, but is much more concrete than a lot of shit that gets run with as rock solid evidence online these days…
“We’ll be there in the summer of 2014… Michael had a debate because he sort of felt at first that he’d done three. Michael and I are both the same in that we always like to top ourselves. That doesn’t necessarily mean bigger. It can be bigger in places, it just means different, but we’re going to push really hard as fresh and new as we can be.”
Of course nothing in that statement precludes Bay from sticking with his “the trilogy is it for me” tack and simply staying on as an exec producer like Spielberg, but ultimately it does seem like a grouping of words that suggests Bay will be behind the camera.
He also says there approach will be like G.I. Joe 2 in that they’ll take whoever will come back and craft them into a continuing new story that can bring in new leads and ignore old ones. I guess that’s what happens when you have old school producers wringing IPs dry without having wrapped their minds around the “just fuckin’ reboot the thing!” mindset all the kids are on about these days. I’d almost prefer a reboot at this point.
So the franchise you love to hate will soldier on, and you’ll have your go-to sight-unseen example of “big dumb movie” to drop in conversations in 2014. “Look, it’s not Schindler’s List but it’s not like it’s Transformers 4 or something.” Ah, I can hear it now.
Also, Bonaventura says some stuff about Red 2 and a follow-up to Salt, which I couldn’t give less of a shit about if I tried. If you want to hear him say that the former is shooting in the fall and the other will happen when it happens, follow the link above.
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*Were it not (40 minutes) too indefensibly long, I’d have gone to bat for it much harder.
Source | Coming Soon (via FilmDrunk)
Fine by me. These are stupid movies which exist solely to exhibit giant metal things shooting stuff with explosions. Also having hot chicks certainly helps.
I’d prefer another sequel over an umpteenth reboot, to be honest. Looking at those AMAZING SPIDER-MAN trailers, knowing the story is starting all over again, makes me feel tired and depressed.
Besides, if Unicron’s the big bad this time around, I’m willing to give it a chance.
There’s a good Transformers movie lurking in there somewhere. Maybe with a new eye and ideas. Oh yeah, and cut about an hour out of the flick.
Renn Brown, I hope…Josh Duhamel returns as…Lt. Colonel Lennox, unless he is now…General Lennox! I am glad…The Master Of BAYhem is back for Transformers 4, T4 or whatever the new name is.
Since Optimus Prime killed Megatron (pretty irrivocably since he ripped his head in 2) the new baddie should be Galvatron!
Wadda ya think?
MOviebuff, Well that just might…GALVAnize the Transformers fanbase!
You are my hero.
Unicron and Galvatron is a MUST. There’s material for a potentially great final trilogy here. Also, I’m over the Earth, massive city destruction. Let’s get them into space. Maybe Optimus and the Autobots have been building there own space station since the 3rd. The Dinobots could be cool. Just no Starscream ghost, please.