Transformers | Steven Spielberg, Michael Bay to return to reboot the large robot franchise

Steven Spielberg is set to produce a new Transformers movie, with Michael Bay set to direct, as Skydance continues to reboot its lucrative franchises. As a jubilant David Ellison sent out upbeat memos in the wake of Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros, the CEO has said that the merged company will “absolutely” make “original stories.” ... Transformers | Steven Spielberg, Michael Bay to return to reboot the large robot franchise

Steven Spielberg is set to produce a new Transformers movie, with Michael Bay set to direct, as Skydance continues to reboot its lucrative franchises.

As a jubilant David Ellison sent out upbeat memos in the wake of Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros, the CEO has said that the merged company will “absolutely” make “original stories.”

Around the same time came news that Steven Spielberg is set to return to the Transformers franchise, along with fellow producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura. Although a deal hasn’t formally been signed yet, it sounds as though Michael Bay could also be coming back to direct a new entry in the alien robot franchise.

The news comes almost 20 years after their first Transformers film, which made just over $700m in 2007. Its success paved the way for a further five entries in the series, all directed by Bay and all positively stuffed with explosions and distracting product placement.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, it isn’t thought that Shia LaBeouf will reprise is role as Sam Witwicky from the first film. And given the tense working relationship between Bay and Megan Fox, it’s unlikely she’ll be coaxed back, either.

The new Transformers will be written by Jason Fuchs, whose work includes Ice Age: Contintental Drift, Pan, It Chapter Two and, er, Argylle. Going by that track record, we can expect action and a dash of comedy – plus maybe a killer clown here and there.

This latest announcement is the latest in a wave of sequels and reboots due to come from Skydance. Danny McBride is set to direct a film based on another Hasbro toyline, G.I. Joe; Tom Cruise is set to revive NASCAR driver Cole Trickle for Days Of Thunder 2; there’s also World War Z 2, Barbie 2, Top Gun 3 and Sonic The Hedgehog 4 still to come.

That’s a whole lot of numbers. We’ll bring you more as we get it.