Steven Spielberg is returning to a major creative role on the next live-action Transformers movie, while original franchise director Michael Bay is in talks to direct the eighth installment.
Paramount has brought Spielberg back to oversee the creative direction of the new film, alongside longtime Transformers producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura. Spielberg previously executive produced the live-action franchise and was closely involved with the first film.
Bay, meanwhile, is in talks to return to the director's chair. Deadline describes the negotiations as early, while TheWrap reports that the talks are more advanced. Because a deal has not yet been officially completed, Bay's return should still be described as in talks, rather than confirmed.
Bay directed the first five live-action Transformers movies, beginning with the 2007 original and ending with 2017's Transformers: The Last Knight. After Bay stepped away, Travis Knight directed Bumblebee in 2018, followed by Steven Caple Jr., who directed Transformers: Rise of the Beasts in 2023.
The new film will be written by Jason Fuchs, who was previously tapped to write a new Transformers movie for Paramount and Hasbro. Plot details remain under wraps, but TheWrap reports that the story will be set in the modern day.
The movie is being developed under Paramount's new Skydance ownership and is among the major projects taking shape following the completion of Skydance's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Original star Shia LaBeouf will not return for the new film, according to TheWrap. Casting for the project has not yet been announced.
If Bay completes his deal, the project would reunite two of the key filmmakers associated with the early live-action Transformers movies, with Spielberg guiding the creative direction and Bay potentially returning as director.
