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When Michael Bay soon reteams with his big f***in’ robots, a lot of things will be different. The human cast is getting shaken up, and that’s likely to be the biggest thing. Then there’s going to be some redesigns of the robots. And now, according to Bay himself, the film might be breaking out of Earth’s atmosphere for something a little more stellar.
Here’s a chunk of The LA Times‘ latest feature on Bay and the Transformers Theme Park Ride that deals directly with the interplanetary ambitions of Transformers 4:
Could the new story involve a departure from Earth? “I think so, yeah, a little,” Bay said. “That feels like the way to go, doesn’t it? I want to go alittle off but I don’t want to go too sci-fi. I still want to keep it grounded. That’s what works in these movies, that’s what makes it accessible.”
Sounds like a pit stop on Cybertron is in order. At least I expect he means something further away than the moon because they’ve covered that already.
Another benefit to keeping the film “grounded” might well be a budget saving. Bay says that the mandate received for this next instalment is to spend $30 million less than last time around.
Elsewhere in the same piece, Bay also speaks a little about his plans to “absolutely” leave the series after chapter four, but you might see a little doubt creeping in around the edges:
Here’s the thing, it’s tough to find someone who’s done these kind of movies and to have the complication of creating the new stuff that needs to be in this movie – not just characters but a new type of action, I hope – and that’s a lot for someone new to bite off. And so after this one I will leave it in the best hands possible. That’s the plan.
Bay’s relationship with this franchise has been rather like that of a rockstar who retires at every gig. Still, if he comes good on his promise and delivers “a new type of action” – and that’s a pretty big if – then we should certainly welcome him back with open arms.
I just can’t imagine what the heck “a new type of action” might even mean.
