‘Transformers’ Producer Confirms Michael Bay Is Out; No Direct ‘Last Knight’ Sequel

Transformers producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura recently reiterated that Michael Bay won’t be returning for any more Transformers films in the future and that no Last Knight sequel is in the works.

Some weeks ago, we covered a story in which Transformers producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura stated that they were working on a Bumblebee sequel featuring Optimus Prime and that they’re also working on a sequel to Transformers: The Last Knight as well. Here’s what he had to say:

“We are already working on two projects and both have scripts under development. One is the latest in the main family series following the events of Transformers: The Last Knight and the other is a sequel to Bumblebee. So, we are thinking of films where Optimus Prime and Bumblebee will be the buddies, but when Optimus and Bumblebee are the movies of the protagonists … how human beings get involved in their drama In the first place, the size is different between human beings and theirs …. It’s a worrying point (laughs).”

Now it seems that Bonaventura is backtracking on these remarks. The Transformers producer talked to Slash Film about Michael Bay’s future involvement in the franchise. While he seems to stay very much involved with Optimus Prime and company as a producer like he did recently for Travis Knight’s Bumblebee, it doesn’t seem likely he’ll be returning to direct future iterations in the franchise:

For the next Transformers are you looking for new directors or hoping you can still make Michael Bay an offer?

I think Bay has made it really clear that he loved what he did and he’s not doing anymore. So I think the answer is we’re writing a script. At that point, once we get script we have a strong belief in, then we’ll begin to debate that. Michael’s made it really clear that he didn’t want to do it. I don’t blame him. He spent a hell of a lot, a decade of his life, shooting them.

After this, the producer was asked if they were planning to make a sequel picking up after the events of The Last Knight, but Di Bonaventura now says that it won’t be happening:

Are you developing a script that picks up where The Last Knight left off?

No.

If we compare the ratings for Michael Bay’s Transformers saga and Travis Knight’s Bumblebee there’s a substantial difference. Fans and critics seemed to grow tired about the lack of plots and over-the-top action sequences on Bay’s films while Knight proved that Transformers films could be jam-packed with action and also have meaningful arcs for all of its characters.

Where should the Transformers cinematic universe head next? Sound off in the comment section down below!

Directed by Travis Knight from a script written by Christina Hodson, Bumblebee stars Hailee Steinfeld, Pamela Adlon, John Cena, Stephen Schneider, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Jason Ian Drucker, Kenneth Choi, Ricardo Hoyos, Abby Quinn, Rachel Crow, and Grace Dzienny.

On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken. When Charlie revives him, she quickly learns this is no ordinary, yellow VW bug.

Bumblebee is available on Digital, 4K UHD and Blu-ray.

Source: SlashFilm