Steven Spielberg is taking a bigger creative role in the Transformers franchise as Paramount Pictures develops its eighth live-action film. The filmmaker, who helped shape the franchise’s early entries, will oversee the new movie’s creative direction alongside longtime producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura.
According to Variety, Spielberg will executive produce Transformers 8 and work with di Bonaventura to guide its creative development. The aim is to recapture the tone of the earlier films, when Spielberg had a more active role in the franchise.
The new instalment is being written by Jason Fuchs, but its director has yet to be announced. The story will be set in the present day, with further plot details still under wraps.
Casting discussions are in the early stages, and former franchise star Shia LaBeouf will not return. It also remains unclear whether Michael Bay, who directed several previous Transformers films, will be involved in the upcoming project.
Spielberg was among the first people Paramount’s new studio leadership met following the Paramount Skydance merger. His renewed involvement comes as the franchise remains significant in the studio’s film slate. The Transformers films have generated more than US$5.4 billion at the global box office.
The eighth film will be produced by di Bonaventura, Mark Vahradian, Don Murphy and Tom DeSanto, alongside Hasbro. The project is part of Paramount’s wider plans for its established film properties, although the studio is taking a separate approach to another crossover in development.
A planned Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover will not move forward. Instead, Paramount is developing a new G.I. Joe film with Danny McBride.
The latest Transformers announcement follows the theatrical re-release of the original animated film, The Transformers: The Movie, in September.
The re-release performed well enough to receive an extended theatrical run, renewing attention on the franchise as Paramount works on its next live-action chapter.
