Transformers 4 Coming in June 2014 with Michael Bay as Director

You didn't really believe Transformers #3 - Transformers: Dark of the Moon (a title I still type first as Dark Side of the Moon and then have to correct) - was really going to be the final film of the Transformers series, did you? And if you knew there would be a Transformers #4, you really didn't think it would be directed by anyone other than Michael Bay, did you?

Bay is in fact confirmed to return as director for the untitled fourth film of the Transformers franchise, and Paramount has set a June 29, 2014 release date for the next installment of the series. There's no word yet on who, if anyone, from any of the Transformers movies will be returning.

But before he gets to work on Transformers #4 Bay will direct Pain and Gain starring Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson. The film's based on the true story of bodybuilders who, according to the press announcement, "engaged in a campaign of kidnapping, extortion and murder in Florida." Bay's expected to shoot that film this spring and then move on to Transformers #4.

Announcing Bay's two-picture deal, President of Paramount's Film Group Adam Goodman stated, "Michael has been working on Pain and Gain for a number of years but has patiently waited for the perfect casting to trigger a start. Clearly his patience has paid off as we couldn't be more excited about this combo. His passion for this project is just awesome."

Bay also posted this update on Transformers #4 and Pain and Gain on his official website:

"To clarify uninformed reports coming out of Toy Fair - Steven Spielberg and I are working on a whole new re imagining of Transformers, the fourth installment. We have been working on the idea for a few months. I'm excited about where it's headed. But first I'm doing a small $20 million dollar edgy black comedy of a true crime story set in Miami called Pain and Gain, [starring] Mark Wahlberg and [Dwayne] Johnson, and very close to signing on a couple other great actors. I'm extremely excited to simplify my film career this spring with a great character piece.

That starts filming at the end of March. I might then jump onto a very cool television show my company Platinum Dunes is selling to a major cable network. It might be my first pilot I might potentially direct. We are still working out the details of the deal."

_{(Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)}