Steven Spielberg Is Reviving Transformers And Michael Bay is In Talks To Return

Paramount Pictures and Hasbro are getting closer to bringing their Transformers back to the big screen and look to be reuniting with some familiar faces to help bring the franchise back to life. Sources tell Deadline that Paramount has appointed Steven Spielberg to focus on all creative aspects of the next live-action Transformers film alongside longtime producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura. Michael Bay is in early talks to return as director.

Spielberg continues as executive producer and will now lead the creative direction for what will be the eighth live-action installment. He held a similar creative role for the first two Transformers films that launched the franchise, which has generated more than $5.4 billion in global box office revenue and turned Hasbro’s toy brand into a worldwide phenomenon.

Together, Spielberg and di Bonaventura will guide this new chapter to honor the spirit of the early Transformers films. Mark Vahradian, Don Murphy, Tom DeSanto and Hasbro will also produce.

In a world of reboots, remakes and dead horses being beaten into a chunky mustard for the sake of profit, I have held a steadfast rule: I'm for any remake/reboot of a property as long as it is not a treasured property. And Transformers is a perfect example of an IP that should be running forever. 

The movies obviously dipped in quality as the years went on, but the original movie is an absolute gem. Great action, beautiful cinematography, A+++ CGI and great action. Something got lost as time went on, but I think that bringing back Michael Bay AND Spielberg (who executive produced the original two movies) could maybe recapture what made those movies so good. Bay's career has obviously petered out a bit, but I still feel that 'Ambulance' had the juice that audiences crave. 

A big question here will be casting. Shia will not be involved and the iconic voice of Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen, passed away earlier this year.