When it comes toMichael Bay’s feature film career, nearly 40% of it has been taken up byTransformersmovies. Given that each movie takes about two years to complete, that’s a serious chunk of time. But now, with Bay’s fifthTransformersfilmTransformers: The Last Knighthitting theaters next week, the filmmaker is ready to bid the franchise adieu. Or so he says.
Speaking withFandango, Bay says thatThe Last Knightwill be his final go-around directing aTransformersfilm:
“These movies that I’ve done, they are massive movies. They take a lot out of you,” Bay said when we asked if he was finally – for real, this time – stepping away from theTransformersfranchise. “I’ve done it enough, and I’ve had a great time doing it. I’m going out with a bang on this one, and I feel like you gotta go out while you’re ahead, you know. I think I’ve had a good run, and I’ve got a lot of other movies I want to do.”
Of course, Bay said this after the third film,Dark of the Moon, and again afterAge of Extinction. AfterDark of the Moonspecifically, Bay said he wanted to let another filmmaker come in and shake up the franchise, take it in a new direction, before he admitted that he selfishly wanted to be that director. SoAge of Extinctionrebooted the cast withMark Wahlbergas the new lead, and it made $1.1 billion worldwide. Then Bay, executive producerSteven Spielberg, and writer/producerAkiva Goldsmanassembled a writers room to plan out where theTransformerscan go in the future, including spinoff films. Bay sparked to two ideas in that room, combined them together, and opted to return to directThe Last Knightwhich retroactively reveals that the Transformers have been on Earth fighting alongside humans for a very, very long time.
So yeah, Bay says he’s done with the franchise but it’s entirely possible he returns forTransformers 6. If hedoesleave the series for good, though, what kind of movies would he want to direct? After directing the first threeTransformersfilms back-to-back he crafted the dark comedyPain & Gain, and beforeThe Last Knighthe directed the true-story war actioner13 Hours. The filmmaker seems keen on doing something “more adult” again next:
“I just read a very bloody hit man movie that was a page turner. That seems like a fun one to do. I love doing13 Hours, I love doingPain & Gain– I think it’ll be something more serious and more adult, I guess.”
It’ll be interesting to see what direction Bay takes his career next if he is indeed done withTransformers. The guy’s only 52, so there’s a lot of tread left in those tires, and inevitably some fan will start a campaign to have Bay direct a Marvel movie or aStar Warsmovie. Whatever the case, I’ll just be happy if it’s notTransformers 6.
