Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Entertainment
  3. News

New Transformers sequel slated for 2017, as the franchise’s universe sets for expansion

By

Transformers: Age Of Extinction
Image used with permission by copyright holder
It came to light last month that Paramount Pictures had big plans for the Transformers franchise — plans that involved hiring a team of writers to map out a cinematic universe for Hasbro’s famous shape-shifting robots. Now it looks like we might see the fruits of the studio’s labors in the very near future, with the next film in the franchise expected to premiere in 2017.

During Hasbro’s recent 2015 Q1 Earnings Conference Call, Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner not only confirmed the existence of the Transformers “writing room,” shepherded by Oscar-winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind, I Am Legend), but also indicated that the company wants to see the follow-up to Transformers: Age of Extinction arrive in theaters at some point in 2017.

Recommended Videos

“Our plan right now with the studio and filmmakers, you may have read something about some writers being hired,” said Goldner during the conference call (as reported by TFW2005). “We have in fact brought in [Akiva Goldsman] to lead a group of writers to really create a strategic plan around Transformers. We think there’s any number of stories to be told. It’s a brand that’s been around for 30 years with amazing canon and mythology. We would expect the sequel to the Transformers movie to happen in 2017.”

Little is known about the company’s specific plans for the franchise, but there’s been mention of spin-offs and standalone movies in the works akin to Disney’s approach to the Star Wars franchise.

Goldsman is reportedly leading a group of writers along with franchise director Michael Bay and producers Steven Spielberg and Lorenzo di Bonaventura. Goldsman isn’t expected to write any of the films himself, though, and will instead oversee their development and the evolution of the narrative elements of the franchise.

Mark Wahlberg, who starred in the recent Age Of Extinction has confirmed that he signed a multi-movie deal with Paramount to star in potential sequels to the film.

While it earned mixed reviews, Transformers: Age of Extinction was the only film to cross the $1 billion mark globally last year and was the seventh highest-grossing film of the year in the U.S. The four films in the franchise so far have earned more than $3.7 billion together, with 2011’s Transformers: Dark of the Moon tallying the highest worldwide box office of all the installments in the series so far with $1.12 billion in ticket sales.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Rick Marshall
Rick Marshall
Former Digital Trends Contributor
A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…
3 underrated (HBO) Max movies you should watch this weekend (June 28-30)
A girl looks at a boy in House at the End of the Street.

June is surprisingly over, and with it, a great month for movies comes to a satisfactory close. You've probably watched Inside Out 2 or Bad Boys: Ride or Die or maybe even The Bikeriders. From blockbusters to indie fare, the theatrical movie business has been robust and healthy.

The same goes for streaming. Netflix had a big hit with Richard Linklater's Hit Man, while Amazon Prime Video recently premiered the latest bonkers season of The Boys. HBO and Max have been quieter, but their robust library speaks volumes to the streamer's high quality. The following three films are older, but are just as worth your time as new hits like House of the Dragon season 2.
The Skin I Live In (2011)

Read more
3 underrated Amazon Prime Video movies you should watch this weekend (June 28-30)
Two men spy from a car in The Limey.

As we head toward the end of June, it's worth reflecting on how we want to spend the rest of summer. For some, that's going to mean enjoying nice weather or getting some time in at the beach. For others, it might mean escaping from the heat, at least for a while, to check out a great movie.

If you fall into that second category, then we've pulled together a list of three great, underrated, titles available on Amazon Prime Video that are all worth checking out. Prime Video is home to some of the best movies available online, but it can be hard to find the ones you want. These three will at least give you a great place to start.
The Limey (1999)
The Limey | 4K Restoration Trailer | Plays Dec. 19

Read more
The best Netflix original series right now
Eric and Benedict Cumberbatch in Eric.

The era of Peak TV was also Peak Netflix, because the streamer seemingly had an endless supply of new original series. So far in 2024, that hasn't been the case. Whether we'll ever get the same level of content again seems unlikely for now. But even in a reduced capacity, Netflix still has a few new additions to its lineup of originals.

For the month of June, we're adding the '80s-set thriller, Eric, which stars Benedict Cumbebatch. Our other pick for the month is Supacell, which is Netflix's new British series that remixes some old superhero archetypes. That's not a very big selection for fans who always want something new, but this roundup of the best Netflix original series really does have all of the top options in one place for you. All you have to do is scroll down and make time to binge watch some shows.

Read more