New Skydance Studio (Paramount + Warner Bros.) Makes First Major Move, Recruits Steven Spielberg To Revive A Beloved Michael Bay Franchise

steven spielberg michael bay

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Steven Spielberg and Michael Bay are back on board for a new 'Transformers' movie


Paramount and Warner Bros. have officially merged to form Skydance and haven’t wasted any time in getting a major project off the ground. According to reports, Steven Spielberg is set to produce a new Transformers movie with Michael Bay set to return as director.

Skydance has said that Paramount and Warner Bros. will remain separate entities. Transformers is a Paramount-owned franchise and has now enlisted Steven Spielberg in a “primary creative producer” role on a new movie in the franchise, with Michael Bay in early talks to direct. Spielberg had a similar role on the first two Transformers movies.

Bay helmed the first five films in the series, from 2007’s Transformers through 2017’s Transformers: The Last Knight, while Spielberg executive produced them.

Steven Spielberg has signed on for a primary creative producer role on the next Transformers movie, with Michael Bay in early talks to direct

Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery announced Oct. 2 that their roughly $110 billion combination will operate under the Skydance name, with the deal officially closing on Tuesday, October 6. Paramount CEO David Ellison said Paramount and Warner Bros. will keep their own identities under the new umbrella.

Jason Fuchs, co-creator of HBO’s It: Welcome to Derry, was hired in June to write the next installment, which continues the story of 2023’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. That film ended with Anthony Ramos’ character, Noah Diaz, getting a G.I. Joe job offer. That crossover has been canceled, however, with a new G.I. Joe project written and directed by Danny McBride and starring Bradley Cooper now in the works.

The Transformers franchise — which first began in 1986 with The Transformers: The Movie — has grossed over $5.4 billion at the global box office across its major theatrical films. That total does not include the likely similar totals the IP has made in toy sales.

Similarly, Paramount is also reviving the World War Z franchise as Conclave director Edward Berger signed on to direct a sequel with Brad Pitt set to return in the starring role.

Eric Italiano BroBIble avatar
Based in New York City, Eric Italiano is BroBible's Senior Editor & Social Media Manager with over a decade in digital media. He covers entertainment, pop culture, film, and sports, and built the site's film junket and celebrity interview presence, speaking with A-listers such as Pedro Pascal, Scarlett Johansson, Nicolas Cage, Ana de Armas, The Rock, and many more. You can contact him via email at eric@brobible.com
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