The Transformers franchise is bringing back two of the biggest names from its original run, with Steven Spielberg set to take a major creative role on the next film and Michael Bay in early talks to return as director.
Spielberg has been chosen to “take on all creative aspects” of the eighth instalment in the blockbuster franchise, putting him back in a position similar to the one he held on the first two films.
Spielberg served as executive producer on 2007's Transformers and its 2009 sequel Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, helping shape the direction of the franchise as it moved from the animated series and toys to the big screen.
Now, almost two decades after the first movie was released, Spielberg is returning to help guide the next chapter.
And it appears his first priority could be bringing back the filmmaker who turned the original Transformers into a huge global blockbuster.
Michael Bay is reportedly in early talks to return to the franchise for the first time since 2017's Transformers: The Last Knight.
Bay directed the first five Transformers films, beginning with the original in 2007 and continuing through Revenge of the Fallen, Dark of the Moon, Age of Extinction and The Last Knight.
The first five movies starring Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Mark Wahlberg and others became major box office hits, with the franchise earning billions of dollars worldwide.
Bay's return would mark a major reunion for the original creative team behind the live-action franchise.
However, one familiar face definitely will not be returning.
Shia LaBeouf, who played Sam Witwicky in the first three films, is not expected to reprise his role.
LaBeouf starred opposite Megan Fox in the first two movies before appearing alongside Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Transformers: Dark of the Moon in 2011.
The franchise continued without him, with Mark Wahlberg taking over as the lead for Transformers: Age of Extinction and Transformers: The Last Knight.
The series was then rebooted with 2018's Bumblebee, starring Hailee Steinfeld and John Cena, before the 2023 film Transformers: Rise of the Beasts introduced a new chapter featuring Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback.
Rise of the Beasts also expanded the Transformers universe by bringing the Autobots together with the Maximals, characters previously associated with the Beast Wars storyline.
The next film will follow Rise of the Beasts, although major details about the plot and cast have yet to be revealed.
There has also been uncertainty around the direction of the franchise in recent years, making Spielberg's involvement particularly significant.
The first Transformers film was released in 2007 and became a major hit, helping establish the franchise as one of Hollywood's biggest action series.
Bay's return would also reunite him with the franchise that became one of the defining projects of his career.
While the director is only in early talks at this stage, his potential return alongside Spielberg represents a major throwback to the beginning of the live-action Transformers era.
For now, details surrounding the eighth film remain under wraps, but with Spielberg taking control of the creative direction and Bay potentially returning behind the camera, the next Transformers movie could mark a significant return to the franchise's original blockbuster formula.
