Uh
oh. Remember when Michael Bay said T4, aka “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” would likely be his last Transformers movie? Well, it still might be his last Transformers film, but the plan (like usual) is for another new trilogy.
“It’s kind of like a new Transformers,” Bay told Entertainment Weekly about the weird way they’ve sorta rebooted the ‘Transformers’ series (evidently it only kinda follows continuity). “We had three, the first trilogy, and this is going to be the next one.” The next…trilogy? “Yeah, it’s the first of a new trilogy,” he says after a moment of hesitation. “I’m not necessarily sure that I’m doing [the others], but that’s what it’s meant for.”
So does this mean that the new team of humans led by Mark Wahlberg are going to continue on in the series? Yep. “I have been telling everyone this really is a standalone movie,” Wahlberg said recently (via TFormers). “Despite the fact they call it Transformers 4 it’s a completely different story. It takes place after the battle of Chicago, it’s very different from the other one.”’
But “standalone” or not, he’s signed on for more. “They [Paramount] certainly make you sign with the anticipation it’s going to be a success. That you will do more. Umm, but as of now we did one and we will see what happens.” Ball is in your court, moviegoing audience.
Jack Reynor, also part of the new cast, said, “We are going to see a very different type of Autobot in this movie. These guys have really changed from the previous three films. They are kind of different souls if you know what I mean. And, I think that you know its just so action-packed and high-octane that its really going to keep people gripped.”
Was a new franchise always part of the plan? Basically, yes. "What happens next? Certainly not a reboot," producer Don Murphy said in 2011 about the future of the franchise after Shia LaBeouf said he was done with it. "We haven’t lost the Transformers. They didn’t grow up or become expensive like Toby Maguire. I don’t know what happens next. I’m pretty sure there will be a second trilogy. I am pretty sure it will kick ass. And I am pretty sure some of you will hate it because it wasn’t all bots."
There you go. “Transformers: Age Of Extinction" arrives on June 27th.
