February 14, 2012 by Paul Curtin
While at Toy Fair 2012, series producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura confirmed that Transformers 4 is happening and that Michael Bay will once again be reprising his role behind the camera as director. Bonaventura went on to say that the fourth movie will be a reboot with a whole new story that they’ve yet to complete and haven’t even started on the casting. But it’s safe to say Megan Fox won’t be on their list of potential actresses.
After Bonaventura broke the news on Michael Bay, Paramount Pictures issued a press release officially announcing Bay’s involvement and confirming the 2014 release date. The Transformers franchise will take a backseat in Bay’s new two-picture deal as he finishes filming Pain and Gain, which will star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Mark Wahlberg as two bodybuilders who get caught up in an extortion ring and a kidnapping scheme that goes terribly wrong.
Check out Lorenzo di Bonaventura interview with MTV News and Paramount’s official press release below.
Paramount Pictures announced today that director Michael Bay has signed a two-picture deal with the studio, which will commence this spring with the filming of Pain and Gain, and will be followed by the next installment in the hit Transformers franchise.
Based on a true story, Pain and Gain follows a group of bodybuilders who engaged in a campaign of kidnapping, extortion and murder in Florida. First told in an article from the Miami New Times, Pain and Gain, will be directed by Bay and will star Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Expected to begin production in early spring, the movie’s producers include Bay, Donald De Line and Ian Bryce.
Following Pain and Gain, Bay will bring audiences a new take on the Transformers franchise as he begins production on the fourth installment in the hit series of movies based on the best-selling Hasbro toyline. The third, and most recent installment of the franchise, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Is the fourth highest global grossing film of all time with 1.124 billion dollars of worldwide box office success. Directed by Bay, the movie will re-unite the filmmaking team from the hit franchise, including producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Don Murphy, Tom DeSanto and Ian Bryce; and executive producers Steven Spielberg, Bay, Brian Goldner and Mark Vahradian. Paramount Pictures will release the film on June 29th, 2014.
“Michael has been working on PAIN AND GAIN for a number of years but has patiently waited for the perfect casting to trigger a start,” said Adam Goodman, President of Paramount’s Film Group. “Clearly his patience has paid off as we couldn’t be more excited about this combo. His passion for this project is just awesome.”
