Last month, we reported on Paramount’s plans to continue their Transformers franchise, following Michael Bay’s decision to exit the director’s chair to focus on non-robot projects (we’ll see). According to reports, the studio plans on not only releasing another sequel, but expanding the universe with spinoffs, hiring Akiva Goldsman to oversee a creative team of writers. Hasbro has now confirmed those plans, along with the intention to release a new Transformers movie in 2017.
In their quarterly earnings call , Hasbro executives say they “expect” the next installment to arrive in 2017:
Our plan right now with the studio and filmmakers, you may have read something about some writers being hired. We have in fact brought in [Akiva Goldsman] to lead a group of writers to really create a strategic plan around Transformers – we think there’s any number of stories to be told. It’s a brand that’s been around for 30 years with amazing canon and mythology. We would expect the sequel to the Transformersmovie to happen in 2017.
The hiring of Goldsman is a little surprising, since he’s not exactly the most inspired choice to help spearhead the expanded universe plan. Paramount is taking a cue from Marvel, obviously, but also from Universal, who collected a braintrust of writers to shape their plans for a universe of new monster movies based on their classic properties, including new versions of The Mummy and Creature From the Black Lagoon.
Unlike other studios attempting to follow the expanded universe model, Paramount has proven their success with the Transformers franchise. Michael Bay will remain on as a producer for future installments, whatever those might be, and although he revealed he would not direct the next sequel, it’s been rumored that he might return when he’s done shooting 13 Hours.
Mark Wahlberg is definitely expected to return, as the actor revealed not long ago that he’s signed on for “a couple more” films.
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