‘Transformers 5’ Star Mark Wahlberg Thinks Michael Bay Will Return to Direct

Not long after Transformers: Age of Extinction hit theaters last year, director Michael Bay revealed that he wasn’t planning on directing another installment in the franchise. Instead, he’d pass that honor down to someone else. Since then, we’ve heard rumors that Bay may have changed his mind, as he’s prone to do, and he’ll likely return to direct Transformers 5. One person who is returning for the fifth film is Mark Wahlberg, and he seems to have just confirmed those rumors.

When Wahlberg was asked about Transformers 5 in an interview with Collider, the actor mentioned that he’d be reuniting with Bay on the sequel. And when he was asked more directly if Bay is in fact returning to direct, Wahlberg gave a straightforward response:

Collider:  Do you have any update on the status of Transformers 5? Have you heard anything about what’s going on?

WAHLBERG:  I don’t. Just that Akiva [Goldsman] and those guys are starting to write and break stories, and stuff like that. But [Michael] Bay is in Malta shooting Benghazi, and I’m in New Orleans shooting Deepwater. We’ll get together when he gets back.

Do you think he’ll still ultimately direct it?

WAHLBERG:  Yes.

And there you have it. The “Benghazi” Wahlberg refers to is Bay’s upcoming military drama, 13 Hours. Reports have suggested that Bay will helm Transformers 5 when he’s finished with that project, and Wahlberg’s response here supports that.

As of now, Transformers 5 is scheduled for a 2017 release.