Transformers 5 Filming to Begin In May

According to My Entertainment World, Transformers 5 will begin principle photography sometime in May. Not sure really sure about the accuracy of the site's info but that date is pretty predictable considering the last three films all started filming in late April or mid May the year before intended release date of the movie and continued filming through the summer at a variety of locations. So in this case the plan is probably start filming from May to August or September and then post production through to May or June 2017.

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Hasbro Signs Deal for Transformers Attraction in China

Deadline is reporting that Hasbro has signed a deal with China's DMG Entertainment for "Transformers Live" attraction in an unspecified city in China by 2017. One of the executives involved said "Transformers Live will be a cross between an action-adventure spectacle, a theme park attraction and a theatrical show. Fans will experience intense action, beautiful visual moments, an emotionally engaging story, lots of humor and rousing music." Disney, Dreamworks Animation and Universal are all planning to open theme parks in China over the next few years so things like this will probably continue with Hasbro and other Hollywood franchises, especially since China is estimated to surpass the United States in box office revenue by 2017.

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Transformers 5 Returning to Chicago

In a radio interview with WGN to promote his latest film 13 Hours, Transformers 5 director Michael Bay indicated that Transformers 5 would film in Chicago once again. He did not indicate the scale of the filming so it could just be a brief week or two shoot (like Age of Extinction) or for a majority of the film (Dark of the Moon). If Bay sticks to his same general schedule as previous films then principle photography will crank up sometime in April or May. (via TFW2005)

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Michael Bay Comments on Transformers Writers Room

In an interview with Collider for 13 Hours, Michael Bay briefly commented on the Transformers Writers Room. As far as giving any info on Transformers 5 he said "I can't tease shit. I am going to be like J.J. Abrams". Important part below, TF stuff starts at the 7:27 point in the video below.

Collider: They are aiming to do a lot more. They had these story groups. Where people came in. What can you tease people about where you want to take your last installment of the franchise and maybe anything you can reveal from those story meetings that really resonated with you.
Bay: They did a really good job of going back in time and connecting things in history and how it relates. Different spin-offs. They are a very talented group of writers. They came up with a lot of clever ideas. Steven [Spielberg] and I are going to break out some smaller ones to do. I guess this will be my last one.

Collider: You have said that before.
Bay: Yeah, I know. That is all they want to do is this franchise. That is all they want to do. I had to beg to get to get to make [13 Hours].

All he really did was confirm what we already knew - that the Writers Room generated multiple story ideas that Hasbro, Paramount, etc are considering. Michael Bay, regardless if Transformers 5 is the last TF film he directs, is likely contractually locked in for Executive Producer credit for all future Transformers films which means he has input on at least some of the decisions for the franchise's future.
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Michael Bay Directing Transformers 5

In a new interview with Rolling Stone to promote his upcoming movie 13 Hours, Michael Bay revealed "I'm doing Transformers ... 5, is it?" Exactly when he signed on wasn't revealed but apparently pre-production is well under way as the interview partly occured during an interview with ILM as they went over effects for 13 Hours, TMNT 2 (a look at Krang and oddly making directing decisions on a film he didn't direct) and Transformers 5 where "They show Bay an underwater rendering of a crash-landed alien spaceship, then a new dump-truck Transformer with a cloak. Neither are up to snuff."

He has directed all five of the films and just like the last two times he also said "But it's time to move on. One more." Chances are Hasbro and Paramount backed up the money truck as he is rumored to have made close to $100 million for each of the last few films so can't really blame him for not wanting to say no to that. I also can't help but wonder if this time the action scenes are being driven by the script developed from the Transformers' Writing Room or if once again he comes up with the action scenes and the script is created to move the story from one action beat to the next as has been the case for the last three films.

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