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Michael Bay Quiting Transformers?
Hearing constant bashing and critisism can take it’s toll on even the hardest of souls. Sounds like Michael Bay is getting bruised up pretty badly. Let’s face it, he’s been getting bashed ever since it was announced that he was doing the first Transformers movie (he did a damn good job on it too if you ask me).
Word is that he’s had enough and is ready to quit the Transformers. Movie Tickets reports the following:
TRANSFORMERS movie – the director is set to quit the action franchise because he has “had enough” of making big budget blockbusters. The filmmaker helmed the original 2007 movie and returned this year with its sequel – Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. But Bay, who is known for his explosive action sequences, is sick of receiving negative reviews from critics who dislike his movie-making style and is determined to move away from the genre.He says, “It’s easy to go shoot an art movie in a winery in the South of France. But people have no idea how hard it is to create something like Transformers. They (the critics) review me before they’ve even seen the movie.” And Bay admits that if film bosses give the go ahead for a third Transformers movie, they will have to find a different director. He adds, “After the three and a half years I’ve spent making these movies, I feel like I’ve had enough of the Transformers world. “I need to do something totally divergent, something without any explosions.”
I have a hard time Michael Bay is finished making big movies. I also have a hard time believing he’s willing to walk away from the Transformers… by for his most successful film franchise, and one guaranteed to continue to make money and attract audiences.
Still, as a Transformers fan, and a fan of what Bay did on the first film, I’d be ok with a new director. I’m finally seeing Transformers 2 tonight… so I’ll let you know how that goes.
*UPDATE – Bay is now denying he ever said those things and that he’s NOT quitting Transformers. He probably did say it out of frustration at some point and now his PR people are getting him to back off the statement*
I’m sure he’ll have the same change of heart as he did from Blu-Ray to HD-DVD
this is great news…to bad he already screwed up the Pearl Harbor story too.
That’s an understatement.
This is a scenario where I really wouldnt mind seeing another director get a shot at continuing a franchise. There is so much depth to the mythos of Transformers and so many stories you can tell that I think it would benefit the franchise greatly to have not only different directors, but directors with different styles to take a shot at it.
Its no sleight to Bay because I love the first film, and by the looks of it so far I will most likely love the second. That being said, if Bay walks away, I wont be heartbroken.
Directors don’t always pick the story for major franchise like this it is done by the Executive Producer and the Studio.
Bay WAS the executive producer.
Hey I agree, I love Transformers (and I like Bay) but this is a movie that can easily be taken over by another director
And also- the fact that 2 movies have already been made kinda shows the new director the feel of it and how the movie is, so the hard work is done for him…the whole “How are we going to have giant robots/toys on screen and make it cool?” question is already answered for him
It just makes the job easier on him
The new director can NOT fuck this up, all he needs to do is look at transformers 1 and 2, and watch the old tv show and come up with a story
John
You lucky bastard! Hope its on IMAX, if so- its gonna rule
I cannot wait for your review, looking forward to it, enjoy it. (and I know you prolly will)
Michael Bay was destined to film transformers. Having another director film this movie will destroy the franchise. Who cares if this story doesn’t have a good plot or is not Oscar worthy. This film is about seeing things get blown up,robots kicking each others ass, and seeing the beautiful Megan Fox. No one can creatively make a big blockbuster action film than Michael Bay. He is doing this for the fans. Transformers is about a bunch of robots endeavoring to eradicate Earth; of course it is not going to be nominated for an Oscar. This film’s only purpose is to captivate and entertain the audience and to make a lot of money (and I assure you it will be the biggest blockbuster of the summer). Michael Bay is the first director, and the only director I believe, who can bring this type of entertainment and experience that is seldomly seen in any other big blockbuster action films. For example, seeing Optimus Prime transforming to his true ressurection form was mind blowing. Michael Bay is the definition of Transformers and he is born to make these types of movies for us die hard fans.
Having another director will not destory the franchise. As I stated before, Bay’s Transformers franchise doesn’t have a unique identity nor does it constitute as a unique cinematic entity apart from the action. Everything else about the film apart from the action can be replicated and even the action can be maintained by another director. Bay’s vision of the franchise is just not unique enough that another director couldn’t easily take over.
This sucks….I hate it when directors or writers pull out of the third film.
He should do a small film then come back to transformers.
If he does leave, I say get Brett Ratner
haha this a joke right?
i’m glad bay has said this. but i hope the snooty critic hear it. the fact that hollywood’s judges made golden compass win over transformers for special effects is more proof many critics are simply stupid.
a big budget action film takes a hell of a lot more talent to pull off. it’s just sad to see the industry side with poor film just because it’s got a name like streep attached to it.
it reminds me of the metallica/jethro tull fiasco during the grammys.
Hey Batdan,
You do realize “the critics” had nothing to do with the best fx Oscar right?
LOL…I don’t think Michael Bay gives a rip about the oscars…I also think he wasn’t completely serious about this, considering the COIN he is making on this juggernaut.
On the bright side, if this is true, we could see another TF in 2 years instead of 3 if Bay stays on.
Noooooooooooo! Michael Bay cannot leave action he’s one of a handful who can deliver a fun popcorn blockbuster. And I’m sorry, but the comment that it’s easy to film a movie at a winery in the South of France is hilarious. Sure, it doesn’t have the hours of special effects work, but it tells a story, a good one, this is something Bay has yet to accomplish. He’s all flash with little to no depth, but I’m OK with that because every now and again all I want is to be entertained with some cool car chases and explosions.
I’m sure his ego is feeling a little hurt by some over judgemental reviews, but once Transformers 2 kills at the box office he’ll feel better.
I think it’s time for this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRS90V8BQGo
The end of the video was freakin hilarious.
I hope this is false or a powerplay or something, what if he actually quits and they give the job directing TF3 too McG, Stephen Sommers or Rob Cohen
Don’t forget Roland Emmerich!
Please not Roland Emmerich.
Don’t forget Paul W.S. Anderson either
I guess what disappoints me is that Bay lets critics get to him, he’s letting them influence his decisions, that sucks. I honestly thought he didn’t give a crap. But the nonchalant front was just a front I suppose. It would indeed suck to get tore down repeatedly after putting 100% into your work. To not get appreciated for doing truly great work at least technologically would piss you off.
My opinion is that I love the way Bay made the first movie. I wouldn’t change a thing in it. I’d like to see him stay becuase I trust him with transformers. This is what Bay does, big action. It’s sad that he can’t continue in his strength because critics want every film to be some weird boring nausea fest that was benjamin button. Some people don’t get that there is more than one genre of film. If you expect “Life is Beautiful” when you go to see a Bay film then yeah, you’re gonna be disappointed and might just write a bad review. Screw them.
Firstly, I highly doubt that Bay is truly finished with the franchise. He may be a bit angry now, but I don’t see him leaving.
Secondly, his next film is indeed going to be a “smaller” movie. He’s adapting the novel Pain and Gain so he is taking a break from the franchise a bit.
Lastly, this is one franchise where a change in director isn’t going to harm much. If anything, it’d be an improvement. Bay’s eye for action has always been phenomenal such as in Transformers, it’s everything else in the movie that’s crap. If Bay could invest more time in the script and plot then maybe the critics would get off his back.
@ It’s easy to go shoot an art movie in a winery in the South of France. But people have no idea how hard it is to create something like Transformers.
What is this jack-ass talking about? Is this some Uwe Boll inspired stunt.
@ Hey I agree, I love Transformers (and I like Bay) but this is a movie that can easily be taken over by another director
That’s about the level of passion I would expect a Michael Bay fan to be able to muster.
I believe that’s a Ridley Scott slam…
MIchael Bay doing an indy is like paris hilton saying she’s going to become a serious actor. ARE U FUCKIN’ KIDDING ME!!! Bay is so story and character development- handicappped he turned a war movie into a walk to remember. WHAT THE FUCK!!! if he’s serious about not doing big budget movies then the name of Michael May will live in infamy. I respect that he’s very tired of critics bashing him and i would love to see a critic try making a movie of transformer’s scale but the fact is hsi movies are good for only one purpose: WATCHIN’ SHIT GET BLOWN THE FUCK UP! Oh you mean the relationship between martin lawrence and will smith was actually showing the constant struggle within our society between the hard workiing black man and the police systems constent racism towards blacks in the police system. OH wait thats not what it was about. im sorry, i forgot it was meant to blow shit up and martin lwrence cracked a joke every two minutes. None of his movies will stand the test of time and the older his movies get and the more advanced technology gets the more people will realize that his movies have flat characters, no story, and no DIRECTION (armageddon anyone). however, i do believe that the transformers movies suit him because like most of the pprevious actors hes directed they end up looking like robots on screen so now he can actually work with fucking robots. IT FITS!!! Stay to what you do best: BLOWING SHIT UP!!! and leave the real movies to the big boys.
So what your saying is people should never change what they do, nor should they take chances and experiment in other fields they may be less experienced in?
Thats not what Im saying at all. I think a director can experiment. However. Michael Bay has shown through his movies that his direction when it comes to actors is poor. In none of his movies is a decent amount of time spent towards developing his characters. I dont care what genre you are doing u must have strong developed characters that the audience is invested in. That doesnt have to be real strong in action movies but if hes doing smaller independent movies i have to see something in previous films that tells me that hes capable. Jaws for example was a great action movie with strong developed characters and i dont think anyone in their day was surprised that that great “action” director couldnt do a movie like catch me if you can or schindlers list. If michael bay has that in him than great but dont bitch at critics for not being able to ubnderstand if you havent given any evidence that youre capable.
I’d have to disagree with you. If a story does not involve character development, then there is no reason to add it. Not all movies are based around character development or the need there of, just as all stories do not need character development. It is all based on what the creator of said movie/story is intending to do with it.
May i have some examples.
Ya know im not a big bay fan, but i think him doing a smaller film is great news because he can finally figure out how to direct actors. Then once he’s done he can come back to transformers with action and some substance.
This is excellent news. I had a lot of problems with the first movie, and the previews of the sequel already concern me. I’d love to see a different director, writers, robot designers, everything. Maybe the sequel will surprise me in a good way, but if not, I’d love to see a reboot as soon as possible.
But critics have been attacking him for over a decade now. Why is he suddenly getting all sensitive about it?
There is a lot that I respect about Bay as a filmmaker. He might not have much regard for plots that make sense or characters with developed arcs but the man can shoot 30 set ups in a day, he always brings in his films on time and on budget and usually makes them look twice as expensive as they actually are. Bad Boys 2 is a particular guilty pleasure of mine as the last 30 mins or so represent a sadistic insanity never seen before or again in cinema.
There is a lot that other blockbuster helmers could learn from Bay.
I’m sorry, but what can be learned from Bay other than how to make cool explosions? Other than that he’s completely inept.
Honestly I want to see the current Transformers canned and then the next director gets a clean slate.
I’d personally opt for Cameron, Nolan or better yet Ridley.
I think all of the above three directors would be able to make a film full of action that would also heavily lean on the franchise for a good deep story.
Sci-fi movies have been taking it up the ass for many years now. It’s about time somebody who can make a good sci-fi movie and not a bunch of baloney full of explosions steps forward.
I’m very hopeful for Avatar and I hope Ridley Scott comes back to the genre sometime after Robin Hood.
Nolan would never do Transformers
I really like Bay. I didn’t like transformers but I don’t think that was because of his directing. I got the idea to look up other MB movies so I watched The Rock and I loved it, I then watched The Island and I loved it. I think he is a really good director who really knows how to make a good action movie. So to hear him say he wants to do something with out any explosions is very disappointing.
yea im not a big fan of the first transformers either, but of course every body thought it was the coolest thing they’ve ever seen. Its probably gonna the same with revenge of the fallen too cuz i the hangover with some friends and rotf trailer came up and they all said it would be movie of the year. I said the day a michael bay film is best of the year is when im done going to the movies.
Did people watch a different Transformers cartoon growing up than I did? I don’t remember there being to many deep stories in the cartoon. It was pretty much what Bay made, an action packed cartoon of robots bashing on robots with a little cheesy humor. Not a bad thing, not every franchise has to be retold with a deep story. It is OK to make movies that are strictly a fun movie with out having to bog down the viewer with mind blowing ethical dilemmas. When did it become a bad thing for a movie to be strictly entertainment. I like movies that challenge me just as much as the next person, but I also like movies that are strictly made for the entertainment value.
ya i agree…its like people forgot it was made off a cartoon made for 6-12 year olds….look i watched every episode of gi joe, transformers, he man etc..
i love how when a movie comes out the act like the cartoon was some shakepearian role…dude i wonder what color the guns lasers will be in gi joe…cause they didnt have bullets!
So what if it’s based on a toy line/cartoon. The cartoon had a plot. That’s no excuse for why the film should be bad. For example, Pirates of the Caribbean was based on a THEME PARK RIDE and it had compelling characters and a well-told plot.
I agree totally agree w/ those who say that this franchise can easily be taken over by another director.
Dis Michael Bay say he want’s to make a movie without explosions? Hell must have frozen over.
I agree, but I’m willing to give him a chance on making a “small” film, but after seeing his other films I kind of have my doubts.
look i c why people like the first one, i mean the special effects were probably the best ive seen( how it lost the oscar to that piece of shit golden compass ill never know), shia was really good, and megan fox was hot. But it is possible to have a really fun action movie with a coherent plot and character ex die hard, terminator 2
Uh, what part of the Transformers plot wasn’t coherent?
look its cool that u like the movie im not insulting u but this is my take. its a stretch for me to believe that an advanced alien race searches the universe for this allspark, then gets to earth, finds the allspark and the bright idea is to hide it in the middle of an american city where innocent bystanders can be hurt? i cant blame this on bay thought i blame it on the shitty screenwriters.
Not to mention that alien space car-robots want to stay on earth with their human companions so teenagers can make-out on their hood.
First of all, I have never been insulted by a movie. It’s a movie!
As far as hiding in a city… its a damn good place to hide if you ask me. There may be innocent bystanders injured, but it may be a small price to pay than hiding out in the open somewhere else where you would be basically just handing it over to the enemy… from which a larger number of innocent people could be injured as a result.
If you want realism, anyway, why are you watching Transformers?
The source is WENN whose function is to essentially funnel crap from papparazzi to the public so accuracy isn’t a priority to them.
Second, his statements are similiar to what he has been saying for a while now about needing a year break before returning for the third film, which is why there are two potential release dates floating around – July of 2011 or 2012.
Third, notice that they didn’t actually quote Bay himself saying he was quitting. They just stated it. His actual quotes are complaining about the critics.
If he said ‘I am not making Transformers 3′ there would have been quotation marks around that statement. So until he is quoted, I am taking it with a grain of salt.
although its still a stretch for me you do make a good point.
no i dont look for realism in every movie but i do like to suspend my belief for instance great special effects made me believe that cars could transform into robots, last summer great filmmaking made me believe a man could build a suit made of iron and escape imprisonment, a man in clown makeup could hold a city ransom and a man in a batsuit could stop him
I say let Quiten Tarintino direct TF3. He would put an odd spin on it.
A transformers that is all witty dialog, that would be interesting if nothing else. I picture Reservoir Dogs with a cast of transforming robots. Optimus could be Mr. Pink?
What about an emo Aronofsky TF film? Or would that be a Raimi picture?
yea id pay to c tarantino’s as long as he is writing, but how a bout peter jackson for tf3?
I’m not a fan of Transformers, I may be in the minority but I personally think it’s the second worst movie Bay has ever made (not as bad as Pearl Harbor). I have always felt that bay was cabable of more than the car-ad looking explosion-fests he involves himself with, I’ve always wondered what it would look like if he made a normal movie for once. I’m curious what this change of attitude could lead to.
I think Bay’s taking this too hard. I can understand wanting to do something else. Heck, he’s been doing Transformers for…3 and a half years I believe it said. I appreciate the job he’s done. Idk how I feel about another director possibly coming for the next one, but he’s taking the criticism too hard I think.
John
Take me with you tonight lol! I have 6 days yet, it’s an unbearable wait!
If this is what Bay wants to do, that’s fine. One of his “lower budgeted” pictures (comparedto his other films anyway) was The Island which I really loved, (until the last third anyway)…
As for Transformers. I’m sure if he doesn’t want Transformers 3, someone else can fill in for him. The exec producer is Spielberg; the man can find-and convince- anyone else to fill in. It won’t be a hard task to do.
He is a grate Director what movie did he make bad. yea everyone is going to say Pearl Harbor well I am not sorry FU cause that is jumping on the band wagon.
Anyway this guy is good at making action flicks on a Epic scale everyone he does is just bad ass stylized action with big explosions and thats Entertainment who cares about these Michel Gandrea or who ever it was who directed Spotless mind that movie sucks! Its boring.
Go Bay make more big action flicks with bigger Explosions. And name one movie where he the explosions took away from the story.
I LOVE BAY he is good at what he does.
pearl harbor, the island, Armageddon, i personally hated bad boys 1 but liked 2.
Jumping on a “bandwagon” against Pearl Harbor wouldn’t change the fact that the film was utter crap.
Thats cool hater obviously you don’t like his films that much. But at least your not judging him for one film and listening to that Team American film and hating him for one film.
Well… Michael Bay just said himself on his message board that he never said he wasn’t going to come back for TF3. He only said he wanted to take some time off and do something else before he does the next Transformers film. Basically, WENN took something he said and twisted it out of context.
Rest assured guys… he’ll be back for part three.
I highly doubt Paramount even wants Bay back, why pay him so much money when they can easily find someone much much cheaper to imitate his formula.
Everyone knows the true power behind Transformer’s success is ILM.
It’s not just transformers but all his movies. Aside from The Rock, I don’t think I’ve seen another movie from him that I liked.
I hope that Bay returns. He’s the one that made me a fan of Transformers. And besides, when a director directs two kickass installments of a franchise, leaves, and a new director takes his place, it just doesn’t feel right.
For example, when Tim Burton made Batman and Batman Returns, next thing you know, Joel Schumacher shows up with Batman Forever and Batman and Robin. The same could be said when Brett Ratner took over for Bryan Singer in X-Men. Or when Jonathon Mostow took over for James Cameron with Terminator 3. It just fucks it up. That’s why I want Bay to return.
I agree, plus without Bay like you said, it’d just feel weird. I’m so used to seeing “Transformers-A Micheal Bay film”
I disagree. Unlike the Batman and X-Men franchises you listed, Bay’s Transformers franchise is not such a unique stylized identity where replacng the director would compromise the vision of future installments.
You must not much about directing to say that Bay has his own style. You have to to be blockbuster hit filmmaker every time. Don’t take it the wrong way most people don’t know what a Director does.
The Transformers franchise Bay created has his signature only in his action which could be replicated, albeit not without difficulty. Everything else in the films is nothing remarkable that couldn’t be managed by another direcor. His Transformers films are not some overly unique entity where changing directors would disturb the overall flow and vision of the franchise.
@ Ezell
I’d have to disagree with you. If Bay had no style then you would not be able to tell his movies from any other movie. However, every Bay movie I have seen definitely screams Bay. I am not trying to argue whether or not his style is good, as that is based on preferences, but there is no argument to whether he has his own style or not. If you can watch a movie and tell what director it is without prior knowledge or reading the credits, then that director has a style whether you like it or not.
I never expected someone like Micheal Bay would buckle under the pressure of something as stupid as a critics opinion (no offense John).
Is he that big of a cry baby, of course they are going to have something to say about the way he directs (they always do!)
James Cameron might be a good fit, id totally like that, I like most of his movies
He could be a good fit, but he better damn well not do it if it was offered unless he can put off for several years. He needs to finish up Avatar, which I cannot wait to see, and then get started on Battle Angel Alita, which I have ridiculously high hopes for as it is one of my favorite anime of all time.
Yeah I can’t wait for Battle Angel either.
Oh shit!
HES doing Avatar?
I am now officially looking forward to that.
Yes, but “Avatar”, not “Avatar: The Last Air Bender”. Those get easily confused because of name similarities. Avatar is his dream project that was known as Project 880 back in the day. A giant sci-fi epic that is supposed to blow our minds in the realm of 3D.
Yeah yeah, thanks, my friends told me it wasnt the last airbender like 2 months ago, i thought it was. Theyre all saying its going to be godlike, i cant comment i know nothing about it
But James Cameron is my 2nd fave director behind Bay and if hes on it, then im certainly seeing it
f**k critics
i dont get why anyone bags Bay. I mean sure his movies dont have depth or character development. but they are Action movies, and he makes the best action movies. Its like Crank. i loved that movie because it was non stop action and i knew that when i saw it. So if critics would review his movies for what they were “action” movies his movies would get excellent reviews
The problem is that you can create action movies with strong plots and characters. Just because it’s an action film doesn’t mean that plot and character development gets thrown out the window. Compare it with other sci-fi action films for example, Terminator 2 is a sci-fi action classic, not just because of the action, but because of a compelling plot and characters you can care about.
Michael Bay himself denies this story.
http://www.shootfortheedit.com/forum/showthread.php?p=92260#post92260
Good. More Michael Bay Transformers goodness! :)
Oh thank Primus
Yeah this story is just more bullshit. I hope Bay goes ahead and makes the winery movie!
I personally didnt like Transformers at all, but all my friends love it, so im the odd one there, haha.
I like Mike. I saw the first Bad Boys and I forgot how action packed and funny it was. You know what’s cool about Mike? He makes great Summer movies and that is all that I’m expecting from him.
big-budget action movies with tons of cgi really is like the hardest movie to make. people have no idea, and they never think about how hard it is to direct everything thats going on.
also, i remember watching bad boys 2 and thinking ‘i have no idea how they made this’ because everything is just so fast and stylish, but people never appreciate movies that are really hard to make. i feel for the guy, i really did appreciate him
I appreciate his wang. mmmmmm tasty goodness 9+ inches
I Hope will Michael Bay will stay. this is already a history for this generation.
I am sorta in a twist here. For one thing, I LOVED the Transformers movie, and I’m excited to see it. But on the other side, I wasn’t too big on Armaggedon (God, I hope I spelt that right), and I found Pearl Harbor to be just okay, but too damn long.
Having said all that, yes, he has made some bad films in the past, but even his bad films had a ton of awesome action in it. Sure that doesn’t make a film, but he is definitely an action director.
Bravo!! Bravo!! Bravo!!….John, If you’d look up FREE PROMO in the Webster dictionary, you’ll find a picture of Bay with shit blowing up in the background. real talk, The man knows how to milk that Free promotion Cow. This is just another one of his Plots to get the “Booger eating” Nerds (and closet nerds like me) to rush to the Cinema on the 23rd …”Oh it’s his last Transformer Movie Aaaaaah”.
John, you and I are in the business, and we know how it works in this city, and I’m not on yours or Michael Bay’s experience level yet, but even I know the critics will criticizes. You need to be built like Teflon. If Bay just arrived I’d buy this story, but if he survived that “Basura” of a movie he called Pearl Harbor, he’ll be fine. And we’ll see a bad boys 3 before another Transformers
No Bay is not quitting Transformers, here is a statement from his official website
http://www.michaelbay.com/newsblog/files/bceaf8bc5444cbaba3c7082bcc2482e5-524.html
Hey David,
read the post before commenting
Something without explosions? Oh god no.
Give us Bad Boys 3 already!!
Hell yeah it’s hard to create an action movie. But it’s also hard, maybe even harder, to create a good plot and characters the audience can care about.
I don’t see why Michael Bay would be ragging on the critics, it’s largely his fault. If he invested as much time and energy into the plot and characters as he does in his action scenes then the critics wouldn’t be complaining. The onus is entirely on him to create a good movie, not the critics.
I just hope he doesn’t make a sequel to The Rock. At least he hasn’t made a sequel to his best film.