Transformers Director Michael Bay to Return for Fifth Movie

Michael Bay is returning to direct the fifth film in the Transformers series. Although the director had previously suggested that 2014's Transformers: Age of Extinction would be his last one, the director has now confirmed that he will be back for the next film, to be released in 2017.

In an interview with Rolling Stone to promote his latest movie, the war drama 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, Bay explained why he would direct Transformers 5. "I still have a great time," he said. "It's fun to do a movie that 100 million people will see. But this is the last one. I have to pass the reins to someone else."

When reminded that he had made this promise before, Bay said: "I know. JJ [Abrams] told me, 'You're the only guy that could do this.' But it's time to move on. One more."

In October last year, Hasbro Studios revealed that a further four Transformers movies were planned. Hasbro president Steven J. Davis explained that a team of writers had "plotted out the next 10 years of Transformers." He added: "Similarly, we are doing the same in television and in digital. So stay tuned, Transformers 5 is on its way, and 6 and 7 and 8."

In total, the four previous Transformers movies have earned more than $3.7 billion worldwide. Age of Extinction saw Mark Wahlberg take over as the lead actor, and he will return for Transformers 5.