Earlier today we reported that Transformers 4 has been tentatively slated by Paramount and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura for a June 29th, 2014 release date.
In our original piece we confirmed the release window; however, as the day progressed, a few more enticing tidbits saw the light of day – including new basic details regarding how the fourth Transformers installment will tie-in with prior entries as well as confirmation that director Michael Bay will return to helm the blockbuster.
According to an official press release at Bay’s official website, MichaelBay.com, the director has signed-on for a two picture deal with Paramount that will bring both his passion project, Pain & Gain, as well as the fourth Transformers film to the big screen. Whether or not Bay will shoot number four back to back with the inevitable Transformers 5 is, apparently, still up in the air (or at least unconfirmed) – and is NOT, at this time, part of the two picture deal.
Earlier in the day, while speaking to MTV, Bonaventura was pretty forthcoming about some other Transformers 4 - details – first restating the 2014 release, then debunking rumors of a Jason Statham lead character, as well as using Marc Webb’s upcoming Marvel reboot, The Amazing Spider-Man, as a point of reference in order to describe what NOT to expect from the next Transformers film – which the producer has described as somewhat of a “reboot.”
Check out the full interview below to hear where things stand with Transformers 4 at this point, at least according to Bonaventura:
So, basically – here are the four biggest points Bonaventura addresses:
- Transformers 4 will release in 2014 as reported.
- Further confirmation that Michael Bay will direct.
- No characters have been decided at this point – since the script isn’t even written (though expect heavy-hitters like Optimus Prime and Bumblebee to return).
- The next film will introduce an all-new storyline but continue the existing continuity.
The fan-favorite producer’s comments do seem to corroborate earlier speculation that Paramount was keen on having Bay return – even if it meant bumping the fourth installment back one year (when compared to the release schedule for the first three films 2007, 2009, 2011 and [now] 2014) so that the director could finish-off his smaller passion projects (such as the aforementioned Pain & Gain).
Similarly, given the amount of closure presented in the third film, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, which included major character deaths and an action-packed (how will they top that?) third chapter, it makes sense that the next film in the series will present somewhat of a series “reset.” Bay and the writers can use a fresh slate to clear-out some of the existing franchise material that bogged the last film down (such as incorporating a Sam Witwicky character arc) as well as offer-up new bad guys and hero bots. Anyone still scratching their heads as to what the producer means by a “reboot” need only look to Bonaventura’s upcoming G.I. Joe sequel, Retaliation, which essentially continues the story set-up in the first film – while at the same time dramatically cleaning house.
That said, as Bonaventura asserts, don’t expect the team to simply abandon the established continuity. Could this mean that, in order for them to up the ante once again, we’ll soon be introduced to some of the franchise’s more ambitious additions – such as Unicron, Metroplex, Galvatron, or even the Dinobots? Given that there’s no story at this point, what the future holds for the franchise is anyone’s guess – though, with Bay back in the director’s chair, fans of the film series should definitely be able to look forward to some truly epic action in 2014.
Transformers 4 will hit theaters on June 29th, 2014
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Follow me on Twitter @benkendrick for further updates.
Source: Michael Bay and MTV
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we need a reboot! or else they need to make a sex scene between optimus and megatron.
I don’t get it. None of this makes sense. Either they are going to continue the francise with a fourth film to continue from where they left off or are they actually restarting the film with a different begining and story.
i totally agree wit u
This is the best news I’ve seen since The 3D re release of Star wars prequels. I think Transformers 4 should happen in Naboo and Jar Jar Binks should replace Shia la Whatever. Also, they should include midichlorians as a macguffin in transformers
Optimus prime kills megatron at the end with one arm!!!smh.shockwave was cool just didnt say tht much!! Juss bring on g1 characters and a good storyline.transformers g1 actually did have an interesting story
There is no script for the ’4th’ movie, there was no script for the ’3rd’ movie. It was just a poor copy of the exceptionally poor ’2nd’ movie. This movie needs to transform into something else and quick. Will Michael Bay be using all the money to pay himself, ripping parts of other movies and stitching them up again? Will we get Shia Le butthead acting like a scared, brave, nervious, nerd, hard, soft, ladies man, nervious around ladies, mummys boy, annoying hero.
To me the 2nd and 3rd movie wasn’t really that good. The first still owns imo.
Shia already said he’s not coming back to this movie, unless he change his mind. Shia’s character will always be that way because it was intended that way in the movie scripts. Love it or hate it if Shia comes back, it will still be the same, maybe.
HAHAHA….Unicron in a Michael Bay Transformers movie. Computers around the world are blowing up in anticipation. Servers at Pixar/ILM/HP have just filed for unemployment. Supercomputers just soiled themselves…
The only story that made sense was the first. The 2nd movie went totally off the rails and the third, while good in action, was totally screwed up story wise. Can someone explain to me how Sentinel Prime can change into a vehicle (as his first transformation) from our present when he was discovered in 1969 and had not scanned any Earth vehicles? Or why did Megatron all of a sudden want to save Earth for Cybertron when in 2 he was bent on destroying it for the Fallen?
Action and CGI are good but to be stellar, you need a good story.
B/c he was the one who wanted to be in charge of the Decepticons, not Sentinel. And yea, I can the plot holes in the story, but I still found it to be decent.
And even the first film had plot holes. Example: When Optimus explains what happend with Megatron coming to Earth, he knew specific details about how Sam Witwicky’s Grand Grandfather discovered Megatron, but Optimus wasn’t on Earth at the time. And his Great Grandfather didn’t record b/c it was even said he went insane.
I mean did they realy have to show it they didn’t show dino, sideswipe, or who ever that blue car was, but you can get the point. You already know that they can and thats what they do. When I saw him as a truck, I didn’t have to know how he did it, I got the point. and in the end he wasn’t trying to save earth. He just wanted to be in charge. because Sentinel pretty much took over, he trys to kill him and get him out the way so he can be. The truce if there was going to ever be one was that he slid for right now.
@ Kahless
What i didn’t get was why was Megtron being The Fallen’s lapdog in the 2nd film. Im guessing Sentinel Prime changed into vehicle mode off-screen for pacing time reasons.
Well, if you look closely, Sentinel is already in that mode before he is revived.
I have an idea concerning the Reboot. I’d make T4 the start of the next Transformers trilogy (4 – 6). Seeing Megatron and Starscream are dead, and Shockwave and Sentinel Prime are also dead, there are barely any villains left. Also, Shia Labouf is unlikely to return. Hence, a whole new bunch of characters is required if this is gonna work. Here are my thoughts.
Somwhat analogous to G1 season 3, T4 will take place somewhat in the near future. At the start Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and other main characters of the old trilogy get killed – by the new Decepticon leader Galvatron and his companions. The world, perhaps even the universe, is at stake and the Autobots seem unable to respond since they’re left without a Prime, a leader. Fortunately, HotRod changes into Rodimus Prime just in time to safe the day.
So yeah, get rid of the old characters (Sam, his parents, Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, etc) and insert a totally new list of characters (Rodimus Prime, Galvatron, Ultra Magnus and new human characters, etc).
I don’t think it would make much sense to introduce Hot Rod in the film, then have him take over as Prime when Optimus dies. If anything, you should have a characater the fans have been follwoing for sometime become the next leader. But I doubt they would kill off the all the old character considering Hasbro regretted doing it for the cartoon movie.
But here’s the thing with killing prime, we’ve already seen that, and it’s already been established that you could just revive him. Which is why I don’t see how people got soo excited when Megatron died. He’s already died and been revived before. And it’ll happen in this film as well. They need to establish a set of rules for when a character dies. Heck, I still don’t know why they didn’t just revive Jazz considering they had the allspark fragment in their hands at the end of the first film.
well what I got out of it was this, prime was brought back because of that l.o.m. Jazz was killed like Megatron. But when they brought back Megatron, they said they needed parts, thats why in that part when the was under watter, they attack that other one for his parts. But in truth, I take it as this. it’s a movie, all movies have holes in it. I don’t ask because I know it’s fake, it’s not real life, so in there world, not ours. it comes together. I guess to bring back jazz they would of needed parts, but they are not going to kill one of there own for parts
Jazz was torn in two, and Ironhide was carrying both parts at the end of the battle.
@ Ghost
Agreed.
They probly didn’t wanna bring Jazz back to life because they too find it immoral to bring back their dead comrades to life. Prime however was brought back to life in ROTF so he can defeat The Fallen since he was believed to be the last living Prime left. Im sure Jazz,Ironhide,etc. could be brought back in different vehicles modes.
I never read the comics but what would be everyone’s opinion on a Transformers/G.I.Joe crossover film? Just curious.
Oh good grief!! C’mon people!! The biggest problem with the original three movies was this moron director!! He hashed up the first load and now he gets to shoot his talentless wad on the only hope we had for a good TF flick…
Hopefully a producer who actually gets involved with the franchise for a change might rein him in… I was so looking forward to him being gone…
If you do this include some original characters like wheeljack, cliffjumper, sideswipes brother sunstreak, mirage, and prowl, and at least explain the characters more. And have unicron as the main villain trying to destroy earth with his world sucker thinggy, and include the remaing decepticons. and either finish the movie or have the dinobots in the 5 one. and maybe a prequel
wow, there seems to be nobody madder than Transformers “fans” from all the sites i check out, just more angry complaining about how they killed off characters, which is a mute argument, as they killed every single character they killed in Transformers 3 in the first Transformers cartoon film, except for Shockwave. and maybe i’m unlike all the rest of the diehard fans, but i thought the Rodimus Prime thing was a stupid idea, and I was mad they got rid of Optimus, and I was glad they finally brought him back. The 3rd film had terrible plot holes, the whole bringing Cybertron to Earth thing so humans could rebuild it didn’t make any sense at all, and the whole movie felt like a rushed attempt at a solid hour long 3rd act of straight up Michael Bay stuff (explosions, car crashes, etc).
If we’re offering conjecture I’d like a stronger script, Galvatron, and the Dinobots to come into play very much. And there were talks about an aircraft carrier transforming into a Decepticon in the 2nd film that never happened, I still think that’s an awesome idea.
They should bring back Ironhide he didnt die the way he should have, he should have went down fighting not punked and shot in the back lets start an Ironhide petition on the net so bay will bring him back!!
I see so many people overanalyze these movies and not enjoying the movie. If you have no imagination , you won’t . Everything doesn’t need to fit exactly for it to be good . So Megatron had a lot of irons in the fire ! He had a lot of plans including a space bridge and the ability to transform Earth’s technology to take over the universe . Pretty cut and dry if you ask me . Fits together if you just work with it . Star trek made sense? loosen up and enjoy it , or stop watching everything except documentaries and news . If they reinvent the story to satisfy people with no imagination , it will be ruined . I have all 3 movies and am about to watch #3 for the hundredth time . Funny how people hated the first movie yet have seen all 3 . People base too many opinions on public opinions.
Totally agree
I think that the following story should continue but to follow the line of the transformers movie of the 80′s with unicorn and galvatron and his horse men and certainly the dino bots I woul love to see that it would be a dream to see that come to life. I grew up with this and then the creation of the movie was epic and I just think it needs this next sort of installment to make it even more so please.