Steven Spielberg has taken on the task of helming the “Transformers” franchise amid development on Paramount Pictures’ eighth movie based on the IP.
He will continue as executive producer and now also oversee all creative aspects of the live-action film working alongside Lorenzo di Bonaventura, insiders tell Variety.
It is currently unknown what role longtime “Transformers” film franchise director Michael Bay will serve in for the eighth film in the franchise, which has grossed $5.4 billion in global box office revenue.
Former “Transformers” franchise star Shia LaBeouf will not return, though talks regarding other casting are still in the early stages. Other conversations about cast are premature.
Spielberg was one of the first meetings Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein took as newly-minted studio heads following the Paramount Skydance merger and the deal for Spielberg to return to the film franchise alongside di Bonaventura has now come together. Spielberg collaborated on the first two “Transformers” films in a similar capacity.
The new movie is being written by Jason Fuchs. The film is set in modern day but all other plot details are being kept under wraps.
Di Bonaventura, Mark Vahradian, Don Murphy, Tom DeSanto and Hasbro will produce.
Additionally, Variety has learned Paramount Pictures’ “Transformers”-“G.I. Joe” crossover project will not be moving forward. Instead, the studio is developing a new “G.I. Joe” film in collaboration with Danny McBride.