No one is saying that he isn't going to do it - he probably will. It's just that NONE of these so-called "confirmations" are actually confirmations of anything at all yet... and they won't be until the studio or Bay himself finally says something.
Bay will still be involved in some form - he may Ex. Produce alongside Steven instead of directing.. only time will tell...
Look at all big breaking news stories. Something happens in a political sense? Always from "anonymous aids" ... never from the actual parties involved. Something happens in sports? Always from "inside sources" or "sources close to the player", never the team OR the player breaking the news. Movies being made? Always breaks from people close to or actors involved, never from the studio or the potential director. Grain of salt? Oh yeah, for sure. But to brush it off as nothing because it's not an official source? Premature.
1.) I'd be gay for Dwayne Johnson. That man is stunning and awesome. 2.) Eh, pass the salt, please. Thanks. I'm not doubting Bay's involvement, but until he himself says it, I'll be sceptical. This isn't really any more "confirmation" than the string of recent "confirmations". 3.) Even if Bay is "locked in", it's not necessarily as director. He could simply stay on as producer or executive producer (my preference, rather than director). 4.) I'm not really a Michael Bay as much as I'm a Transformers fan, but I'd love to see a Michael Bay-directed movie starring Dwayne Johnson. I'll be there opening week. So much THIS. Seriously. Live-action Cliffjumper voiced by Johnson. He doesn't even need to take much time away from Fast Six and other projects. A couple of days (or less) in the recording studio. Even if he doesn't return as director, I'm sure he'll take home his share of moneys as a producer. And honestly, what better franchise to use as a vehicle (pardon the pun) than Transformers for "blowing s**t up"? This.
Sorry, I couldn't get past the Looney Toons physics of the safe being pulled and yanked around by a couple of Dodges. It's elements like that that ruin a movie for me, just like the crappy wire work in all the movies at the time of (and including) Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.
First Thought: Will his character die in few minutes again? I wanna see Cliffjumper in movie, and it will be better if he is voiced by Dwayne Johnson.
Unless Dwayne Johnson has actually been cast in TF4, he would have no way of knowing if Michael Bay has been hired to direct it. I seriously doubt Bay is walking around the Pain & Gain set tapping his watch and shouting, "Step it up, people! I got TF4 to do here!"
That's kind of saying Dwayne is a better actor than the two arguably best humans in the whole trilogy (namely because they aren't annoying, complete asshats, or made us stare at their thong-clad asses for three seconds. Although I personally still think Simmons is the third best human in the whole trilogy, if only because I constantly find him hilarious). Er...do you even understand what "take with a grain of salt" means? Your first sentence suggests you don't.
The Rock as Cliffjumper in TF4 would be the sole reason I'd be giddy for another movie ASAP. Make it happen.
Of course Mike is going to direct another. He makes too much money for Paramount not to. The real question is whether Dwayne is going to voice a cliffjumper. Its still early who knows. He may be swayed.
And why is that, exactly? Preferably without using the word "just." It's been a highly lucrative franchise that has actually maintained a pretty high quality. Not sure how this is funny.... ....It is, however, freakin' awesome!