It’s been widely reported over the past few months that Paramount Pictures is looking to expand their big screen Transformers franchise, pulling together a team of writers with the aim being to develop sequels and spinoffs set in the same cinematic universe as the four existing Michael Bay films. Today, Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner spoke at this year’s Global Consumer Conference and name-dropped the Autobot Bumblebee as the potential focus for a spinoff feature.
“As we go forward, we would imagine several more Transformers Movies,” Goldner said (via TFW2005.com). “Not just in the current lineage but also spinoffs and focusing on certain key characters that are beloved by the world over. Many of you know Bumblebee; the yellow Camaro… formally known as a yellow VW Bug. He is a beloved character by kids all over the world. We could see stories told around Bumblebee and other characters. We are in a process of building the brand equity around the comic book business, our TV Business, our digital gaming business and adding to that our new movie business of Transformers.”
The new writing team currently includes “The Walking Dead” and “Invincible” creator Robert Kirkman, the Iron Man writing pair of Art Marcum and Matt Holloway, “Fringe” and “Lost” scribe Jeff Pinkner, X-Men: The Last Stand and The Incredible Hulk‘s Zak Penn and Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari, a duo that worked together rewriting Marvel’s upcoming Ant-Man. I Am Legend‘s Akiva Goldsman will lead the group, each member of which was selected by Bay and fellow producers Steven Spielberg, and Lorenzo di Bonaventura.
Previous reports have suggested that one of the potential titles in development is Transformers One, a prequel film set on the planet Cybertron, briefly seen in the first film of the series.
Last year, Paramount released the franchise’s fourth film, Transformers: Age of Extinction, starring Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz and Jack Reynor. When asked if he’d be back for a sequel, Wahlberg previously stated that he’s contracted for “a couple more.” It is also believed that Bay himself will return to helm Transformers 5 after he completes work on his Benghazi drama 13 Hours.
Age of Extinction grossed over $1 billion at the global box office with all four films combined grossing over $3.7 billion.
