At this point, the return ofMichael Bayto the director’s chair might be the only way to save theTransformersfranchise.Transformers Onewas recently released in theaters, revealing the origins of Optimus Prime and Megatron when they were brothers known as Orion Pax and D-16. However, the new animated prequel has joined the collection of post-BayTransformersprojects that have not seen much success at the box office.
Having directed and produced the firstTransformerslive-action movie in 2007, Bay would go on to direct four more sequels with his final movie beingTransformers: The Last Knightin 2017. Since then, theTransformersfranchise has released 2018’sBumblebeedirected by Travis Knight,2023’sTransformers: Rise of the Beastsfrom director Steven Caple Jr, and most recently the animatedTransformers Oneby Josh Cooley.Each of these movies has seen lower box office numbers compared to the Bay films of the past, leading to the argument that perhaps the original director should come back for the sake of theTransformersfranchise as a whole.
Transformers Movies Have Struggled At The Box Office Without Michael Bay
Numbers Have Been Lower Since He Left
It’s worth mentioning that Bay’s finalTransformersmovie (The Last Knight) did begin the decline at the box office that’s been consistent since his departure.However, Bay is also responsible for the highest grossingTransformersfilms of all time:
$709 million
Revenge of the Fallen
$836 million
Dark of the Moon
$1.124 billion
$1.104 billion
$605 million
$468 million
Rise of the Beasts
$439 million
Transformers One
$97.5 million (Final Number TBD)
Ultimately,the box office decline did begin under Bay withThe Last Knightseeing as how it didn’t break a billion dollars like his previous two movies. However, the numbers also see another significant drop between the fifthTransformersand 2018’sBumblebee.Both the solo movie starring the iconic yellow bug and the subsequentRise of the Beastswere unable to break 500 million dollars, and neither had Bay behind the director’s chair. Likewise,Transformers Onehas also had a very lukewarm performance at the box officeand will most likely end its theatrical run right around the 100 million mark.
Transformers Hasn’t Reignited Audience Interest Despite Critical Acclaim After Bay’s Exit
Engagement With The Franchise Is Pretty Low
On the one hand, the argument can be made that audiences had grown tired of Bay’s films by the time ofThe Last Knight.However, it’s also worth pointing out that audiences haven’t exactly returned or reengaged with the franchise in his absence.What was once a franchise capable of billion-dollar blockbusters has become fairly diminished in recent years.
All Upcoming Transformers Movies Explained
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts arrived in 2023, and that set the table for several more movies in the franchise that will arrive down the line.
This is in spite of the fact that bothBumblebeeandTransformers Onewere received quite well critically, though it’s been arguedRise of the Beaststook itself too seriously despite being as action-packed as the previous live-action films. The typical quality and expected epic action sequences are there. However, the audience and subsequent box office returns have not been the same since.
Transformers Bringing Michael Bay Back Makes Sense - But It Would Be Divisive
Reactions Would Certainly Be Mixed
At this point, the idea of Michael Bay eventually returning to the franchise does make a certain amount of sense. It would be not unlike theRusso Brothers and their recent announcement at 2024’s San Diego Comic-Conthat they will be returning to the MCU to direct bothAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars(alongside Robert Downey Jr. in the role of Doctor Doom). That being said,Bay making a similar return to theTransformersfranchise would undoubtedly come with some mixed and divisive reactions.
Every Transformers Movie, Ranked Worst To Best
The Transformers movies offer a lot of CGI and explosions, but the best ones are full of heart. From Michael Bay’s films to Bumblebee, which is best?
Those wanting to see a return to Michael Bay’s style and action-heavy plots would, of course, be thrilled.However, those who might have grown tired of Bay’sTransformersmoviesand have been enjoying the newer projects wouldn’t be nearly as excited.That said, Michael Bay’s return toTransformerswould be the exact kind of thing that would help reinvigorate the franchise. Perhaps some years away might give him a renewed perspective on the franchise, which could be very exciting to see. It’s also worth considering that the nextTransformersmovie in development would be right up his alley.
Will Michael Bay Actually Return To Direct Another Transformers Movie?
The Transformers/G.I. Joe Crossover Doesn’t Have A Director…
Despite not being a director on the last threeTransformersprojects, Michael Bay has served as a producer. This means that he’s always had some level of involvement, even if he hasn’t been the one sitting in the chair.To that end, one could imagine that it wouldn’t be hard for Bay to become a director of a futureTransformersfilm if he were so inclined. Bay has said in the past that he wouldn’t be opposed to returning in such a capacity, so long as"the right story comes along."
G.I. Joe/Transformers Crossover: Confirmation & Everything We Know
Two epic franchises will collide in a brand new G.I. Joe and Transformers crossover movie, after being teased at the end of Rise of the Beasts.
Keeping that in mind, there couldn’t be a better story for Bay thanthe upcomingTransformers/G.I. Joecrossover, the eighth live-actionTransformersmovie in the franchise.Given his love for the military with movies such asPearl Harborand13 Hours, bringing the Joes side by side with the Autobors on the big screen sounds like the perfect job for Michael Bay. It’s also worth noting that the movie currently does have a director. As such, the opportunity to come back for such a major crossover event film could be the perfect means of getting Michael Bay back toTransformersand getting the franchise back on track.
Transformers Oneis currently in theaters.
Transformers
Transformers is a multimedia franchise consisting of movies, TV Shows, video games, and comics. The franchise centers on a race of humanoid robots called the autobots who must protect Earth from the Decepticons. Some of the most popular characters include Megatron, Optimus Prime, and Bumblebee. In 2007, the first live-action movie in the franchise was released starring Shia Labeouf.
