Transformers One Director Working on New Live-Action Transformers Movie (& 4 More Are in the Works)

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The Transformers film series continues to accelerate, with several projects in the pipeline according to industry whispers. The most significant announcement (to date) is that Michael Bay, director of the initial five live-action Transformers films, is set to rejoin the franchise after a prolonged absence. Interestingly, there are also hints that Josh Cooley, who directed the recent animated feature Transformers One, might remain involved with the series, but not in the capacity we had anticipated.

Based on recent updates, it appears that Cooley has been chosen by Paramount for the task of creating a live-action Transformers film, distinct from the project Michael Bay is working on. Interestingly, as per Puck News’ tally, there are now five separate Transformers movie projects in progress, with both Bay and Cooley’s films being part of that number.

In an unexpected twist, I found myself part of the audience that contributed to “Transformers One” not living up to Paramount’s expectations and the broader Transformers franchise. Despite the animated masterpiece reportedly costing a substantial sum, estimated at around $145 million or more for production and marketing, it only managed to gross $129.4M at the box office. Even when it was made available for streaming, it didn’t seem to reignite interest in Transformers among younger viewers, leaving the future of live-action movies as the potential solution.

Regardless of opinions on Michael Bay’s movies, they consistently raked in over $600 million at the box office. In contrast, since Bay departed in 2017, none of the subsequent films have managed to surpass $500M, with Bumblebee, Transformers One, and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts being critically acclaimed yet financially modest productions. This raises an intriguing point about the role of Travis Knight in this scenario. Transformers One delved into intricate lore from contemporary Transformers comics, cartoons, and other media, while some current comics are exploring lore that could be significant for this franchise, particularly the Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover.

Fervent followers have been pondering if the “Energon Universe” by Image Comics provides a more mature take for Transformers and G.I. Joe, blending ’90s-style sci-fi-action (and even elements of horror). It appears that Rise of the Beasts ended in this realm, as Noah Diaz, the Autobots’ new human ally who was previously a soldier (played by Anthony Ramos), got recruited by the G.I. Joe team. Could Josh Cooley potentially lead the way in this part of the series instead of another animated project? As we last knew (around a year ago), Derek Connolly was working on a script draft, and a director was yet to be found. Perhaps that search concluded with Cooley as the chosen one?

It appears that there are two distinct approaches within the Transformers franchise: Bay’s films create their unique universe, while movies such as “Bumblebee” and “Rise of the Beasts” are direct adaptations of the G1 cartoon series and their respective canons. These different paths within the franchise are already well-known to fans, and with Cooley in charge of a lore-rich crossover like Transformers/G.I. Joe, it could potentially challenge Bay’s next big box office hit for another billion dollars.

We’ll keep you updated on the status of the Transformers franchise as more develops.

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2025-06-27 22:11