Michael Bay Disputes 'Transformers 3' Date

Yesterday, news of a release date for Transformers 3 hit the front pages, and it sounded about right: Paramount and DreamWorks wanted to position it in the summer - of course - and they wanted to go two years in between films, like they've done for the first two flicks in the series. The date: July 1, 2011. But director Michael Bay says today on his blog that he can't physically do that, and that Paramount misunderstood when the filmmaker would be willing to deliver a threequel.

"Wait a minute! I said I was taking off a year from Transformers. Paramount made a mistake in dating Transformers 3 - they asked me on the phone - I said yes to July 4 - but for 2012 - whoops! Not 2011!!! That would mean I would have to start prep in September. No way. My brain needs a break from fighting robots."

Jokes about Michael Bay's brain aside, let's think about this. Would Paramount want to wait a whole three years for the third film in the franchise? Could Bay be financially persuaded to do it for a 2011 release? Or would Paramount move on without him? It's doubtful the third option will happen, unless the second film is bad and doesn't perform well. Would the studio move its date? Perhaps, although they will probably have an awful lot invested in that summer anyway with The Avengers, provided Paramount remains the studio Marvel uses for that arc. Then again, the studio could just tell Bay he made the second one two years later, kick in some extra cash, and give him his marching orders. Unless he's committed to another directing project, I'd think this is what will most likely happen.

Comments

[Coking]

Showing Transformers 3 in 2012 would give a very long gap from the second installment that will be shown this year. But hey, if it will be really good, it's worth the wait.