Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Mike Redmond | News | October 6, 2026
With Warner Bros. Discovery now officially absorbed into Paramount’s Skydance umbrella — what a time to be alive — the first order of business is to churn out product as quickly as possible starting with a new Transformers movie directed by Michael Bay. While Bay jumping at a chance for another big ol’ franchise paycheck is not a surprise, Steven Spielberg’s involvement is notable.
Yes, Spielberg has been a executive producer on these films from the jump, but he’s really carrying that studio water this time around following the highly controversial merger. Via Deadline:
Spielberg continues as executive producer and will now lead the creative direction for what will be the eighth live-action installment. He held a similar creative role for the first two Transformers films that launched the franchise, which has generated more than $5.4 billion in global box office revenue and turned Hasbro’s toy brand into a worldwide phenomenon.
In fairness, Skydance has to immediately start making money had over fist after buying up Warner Bros., which hasn’t exactly been having a banner year. Just this weekend, Digger crashed and burned five feet off the runway, and Supergirl’s box office is still smoldering in the background. To make matters worse, The Batman: Part II is almost definitely looking at another delay after director Matt Reeves stepped away to focus on a family matter.
However, the silver lining is Skydance’s desperation for theatrical releases has more than likely protected James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU. The two are officially locked in post-merger and continuing to do their thing including next summer’s Man of Tomorrow and whatever new movie Gunn is already writing. (Clayface could also be a tidy little hit when it drops this month.)
But Transformers? The latest one, Rise of the Beasts, only did $441 million worldwide. That’s not awful, but it’s not great nor is it a sign that audiences are champing at the bit for more of these things. Christ, The Last Knight, Bay’s sixth crack at the franchise before stepping away barely passed half a billion.
On the other hand, this has to be awesome news for Megan Fox right now. Or I dunno, maybe it isn’t? Selling ED pills is good, honest work that doesn’t make you feel dirty at the end of the day. Making another Transformers movie? That will follow you forever.
