Director of Transformers franchise, Michael Bay, potentially back to lead a fresh take on the series, having departed from Netflix's crime thriller Fast and Loose.
The Transformers franchise, known for its high-octane action and transforming robots, has taken a back seat as Hollywood's focus shifts to a different project involving one of its most prominent directors - Michael Bay.
Bay, who launched the Transformers series in 2007 and directed five movies in the series over a period of 10 years, ending with Transformers: The Last Knight in 2017, is currently in negotiations with Paramount about returning to the franchise[5][6]. However, his potential return may cause a delay or changes in the production schedule of another project he was initially set to direct - Fast and Loose, a crime thriller starring Will Smith.
Fast and Loose was intended to be a cinematic collaboration between Bay and Smith, who previously worked together on Bad Boys in 1995. The plot revolves around Smith's character, an amnesiac who discovers he has been living a double life as a criminal mastermind and an undercover CIA agent[7].
However, creative differences regarding the film's tone have led to Bay's departure from Fast and Loose. Bay wanted to increase the action in the film, while Smith aimed to emphasize the comedy aspects[8]. With Bay stepping away, Netflix is now searching for a new director to begin production as planned in October 2026[1][2][3][4].
Meanwhile, the Transformers franchise continues to evolve. The most recent film, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, helmed by Steven Caple Jr., has been described as a fresh, breezy franchise reinvention[9]. Bumblebee, directed by Travis Knight in 2018, was also well-received and marked a successful reinvention for the franchise[10].
For those interested in catching up on the Transformers movies, a guide on how to watch them in order is available[11]. For those looking forward to new releases, information on upcoming movie release dates for 2025 can be found[12].
As for Bay, his potential return to the Transformers franchise may be beneficial to fans of the series[13]. Only time will tell if he will rejoin the world of transforming robots and high-stakes battles. In the meantime, the hunt for a new director for Fast and Loose continues.
[1] https://www.thewrap.com/michael-bay-exits-will-smith-crime-thriller-fast-and-loose-netflix/ [2] https://deadline.com/2022/04/michael-bay-exits-will-smith-crime-thriller-fast-and-loose-netflix-director-1234933673/ [3] https://variety.com/2022/film/news/michael-bay-exits-will-smith-crime-thriller-fast-and-loose-netflix-1235156220/ [4] https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/michael-bay-exits-will-smith-crime-thriller-fast-and-loose-netflix-1235036801/ [5] https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/michael-bay-in-talks-to-return-to-transformers-franchise-1235145496/ [6] https://deadline.com/2022/04/michael-bay-in-talks-to-return-to-transformers-franchise-1235079163/ [7] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10993058/ [8] https://www.thewrap.com/michael-bay-exits-will-smith-crime-thriller-fast-and-loose-netflix/ [9] https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2598576/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review [10] https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2474816/bumblebee-review [11] https://www.cbr.com/how-to-watch-transformers-movies-in-order/ [12] https://www.imdb.com/calendar/2025/ [13] https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/michael-bay-in-talks-to-return-to-transformers-franchise-1235145496/
- Michael Bay's potential return to the Transformers franchise could bring excitement for fans who enjoy action-packed entertainments in the series.
- If Bay decides to rejoin the Transformers world, it may cause a delay or alterations in the production schedule of Fast and Loose, a crime thriller starring Will Smith, a different project he was previously set to direct.
- With Bay stepping away from Fast and Loose, Netflix is currently searching for a new director to begin production as scheduled in October 2026, which was initially intended to be a cinematic collaboration between Bay and Smith.
- For those eager to watch the Transformers movies in order, a guide is available, and for those looking forward to new releases, information on upcoming movie release dates for 2025 can be found.
