The Future of the Franchise: Bay and Wahlberg plus TF in Space?

Shizuka · Jun 21, 2014

Transformers Producer Wants Michael Bay and Mark Wahlberg to Drive Franchise Forward - IGN

Producer Speculates on Transformers in Space - IGN

When it comes to Transformers, Autobots and Michael Bay go hand in hand. But would Paramount ever consider giving the franchise to another director, à la Disney's Star Wars model?

When asked by IGN's Roth Cornet if they'd eyed any new filmmakers to pick up the mantle, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura replied, "My eye's on Michael. I want to keep Michael going. He does it so well. Recasting the movie created a whole new sense of energy and possibilities. I think that's going to keep his creative juices going. It's hard to imagine it without him, honestly. If you're forced to, you're forced to, but all of us are focused on Michael."

Perhaps more interesting, though, was what di Bonaventura had to say about Transfomers: Age of Extinction star Mark Wahlberg. "Here's the interesting thing about casting Mark," he said. "We presumed that the glue of this movie was going to be the father/daughter -- and then by extension -- the boyfriend, right? That was going to be the emotional glue of it. I think it surprised us how much it was."

More specifically, he continued, Wahlberg's character opened up the doors to showcasing a bonafide action star in Transformers -- unlike, say, Shia LaBeouf.

"We were able to use [Wahlberg] in a way that we could never use Shia, or anybody in the cast before," di Bonaventura explained. "So when you have the lead of the picture picking up a gun and shooting, it really changes the context of the movie. I think it's opened up a whole new possibility of where we can take him forward so that now he can push -- and I think also his storyline of being in robotics is going to -- we've never really talked about it, but I presume we'll explore that.

"You know, I think we can make [Wahlberg] more a driver of the plot. The hard part before was humans were given tasks like, 'Grab this and run!' They couldn't stand and fight. I think that's going to change this movie, and I think it will change the next whatever it is. Jack and Nicola were fantastic in the movie, and no doubt we'll want them back, but I don't see us going off of Mark for a long time."
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IGN's own Roth Cornet pitched the idea of "Transformers in space" to producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, who said he'd previously discussed that possibility with director Michael Bay and other creatives at Paramount.

"We've debated space," he said. "We've debated whether we should ever shoot anything in space or not, and I don't think we've come to that conclusion.

"There are attractive notions to it, and unattractive," he continued. "I think the unattractive, or the trick of it, is that we want our humans with us. So going to space might force an all-Transformers movie, and while I think some fans would love that, I think other fans would be disappointed they don't have humans. So I think that's the creative decision we've got to face about that idea."
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RobotoChan · Jun 21, 2014

See I don't really need humans in my Transformers fiction. The 'bots themselves should be the stars, not the extras.

As for a space based piece of fiction, I would love it. MTMTE could be a good template for this or maybe the Battlestar Galactica idea of having tribes lost in space searching for home?

Shizuka · Jun 21, 2014

RobotoChan said: ↑

See I don't really need humans in my Transformers fiction. The 'bots themselves should be the stars, not the extras.

As for a space based piece of fiction, I would love it. MTMTE could be a good template for this or maybe the Battlestar Galactica idea of having tribes lost in space searching for home?
Click to expand...

Well you have to consider how many movie-goers are Transformers fans as opposed to typical movie-goers who enjoy the whole of the movieverse. Then you have to consider the massive cost of a full CGI movie with ILM's fidelity. Human's are also a way to bring down the cost.

Starscream Gaga · Jun 21, 2014

RobotoChan said: ↑

See I don't really need humans in my Transformers fiction. The 'bots themselves should be the stars, not the extras.

As for a space based piece of fiction, I would love it. MTMTE could be a good template for this or maybe the Battlestar Galactica idea of having tribes lost in space searching for home?
Click to expand...

If only Transformers could produce a movie with writing half as good as Battlestar Galactica and MTMTE.

Its just not going to happen. I highly doubt the movies will ever make the Transformers the actual main stars of the film either. He needs his vapid humans.

Darkstone · Jun 21, 2014

My eye's on Michael. I want to keep Michael going.
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So I dont even need to expect a half decent Transformers movie in the near future? Good to know.

Bass X0 · Jun 21, 2014

"There are attractive notions to it, and unattractive," he continued. "I think the unattractive, or the trick of it, is that we want our humans with us. So going to space might force an all-Transformers movie, and while I think some fans would love that, I think other fans would be disappointed they don't have humans. So I think that's the creative decision we've got to face about that idea."
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I seem to remember humans in space alongside Transformers in past stories. Not even on other planets.

Also, why is space bad for Transformers but good for Star Wars, Star Trek and other famous movies set in space?

flatline72 · Jun 21, 2014

transformers in space....decepticon and cylon alliance determined to wipe out the humans of earth and the autobots.

I'd pay to see that.

Starscream NZ · Jun 21, 2014

Given there are numerous other franchises which heavily involve space-based stories and plots, if they'd bothered to give the Transformers relatable personalities the general audience would be much more open to future space stories.

Wouldn't be hard to explain. TF's living on Earth for say, 50-100 years, massively advancing human technology and having bases on the moon = easy way to include humans in space stories.

General Magnus · Jun 21, 2014

Darkstone said: ↑

So I dont even need to expect a half decent Transformers movie in the near future? Good to know.
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Good, the more it stays the same the more the change of the nagging to go away.

RedAlert Rescue · Jun 21, 2014

General Magnus said: ↑

Good, the more it stays the same the more the change of the nagging to go away.
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Can you rephrase that ?

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What is going to do build his own exo suit (Apex Armour) out of the dead bits of Team Prime or something ?

All I can say is remember what Miko said about such things.

Transformers 2016 : Robo-cade combines with Optimus to give him yet another disapearing jet pack - laugh

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The Future of the Franchise: Bay and Wahlberg plus TF in Space?

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The Future of the Franchise: Bay and Wahlberg plus TF in Space?

Shizuka Optimus Prime's Scriptor

RobotoChan Nothing to see here

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