Report: Transformers movie franchise ‘reset’ in the works

Michael Bay’s reign of terror may finally be over.

A new report from Transformer World says that “a new team at Paramount will reset the Transformers Live Action Movie Series following the release of Bumblebee: The Movie.” Transformers 6, the studio’s planned sequel to last year’s Transformers: The Last Knight, has reportedly been removed from its upcoming slate.

The report comes from a preview event for New York’s upcoming Toy Fair, where an upcoming slate of Paramount-Hasbro movies was shown. Transformers 6 isn’t listed. Paramount first announced in 2016 that multiple Transformers movies were planned.

Hasbro

In April 2016, Paramount appointed three top-tier writers to handle building the Hasbro-Paramount cinematic universe. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon, Eisner Award winner Brian K. Vaughan and Guardians of the Galaxy screenwriter Nicole Perlman will all lend their talents to the studio on various projects, including G.I. Joe.

It isn’t too surprising that the Transformers series is being rebooted. Despite the lack of critical appeal and numerous Razzies, the franchise has pulled in more than $4 billion since the first Transformers debuted in 2007. Long time director Michael Bay announced in 2016 he was stepping back from the franchise after Transformers: The Last Knight, so don’t expect Bay to return to the new cinematic universe.

The untitled Paramount-Hasbro movie in 2021 could be reserved for the new Transformers movie, giving Paramount years to work on what the new series looks like. Who knows, maybe Paramount will figure out a way to make a good Transformers movie again. Wouldn’t that be nice?

Bumblebee: The Movie, the Transformers spinoff movie being directed by Travis Knight, opens on Dec. 21.