It doesn’t look likeMichael Baywill be directing a DC movie anytime soon. While the filmmaker was reportedlyin early discussions to take the helm ofLobofor DC and Warner Bros.,Varietynow reports that theTransformersdirector has solidified his next two projects. Up first will be an action movie called6 Underground, which boasts a screenplay byZombielandandDeadpoolscreenwritersRhett ReeseandPaul Wernick. While the logline is being kept under wraps, it’s an original idea and production is slated to begin this summer as Skydance has set a Summer 2019 release date. Bay will produce alongside Skydance’sDavid Ellison,Dana Goldberg, andDon Granger.
More curious, however, is the project Bay has his eye on for after this one:Robopocalypse. Longtime readers will recognize that title as it’s a project based on a book byDaniel Wilsonthat camethiscloseto happening withSteven Spielbergat the helm a few years ago. The story tells of a future where artificial intelligence comes online an threatens a robot apocalypse, and in 2012 Spielberg had castChris Hemsworth,Anne Hathaway, andBen Whishawin lead roles with a script byThe Cabin in the Woodsco-writerDrew Goddard. However, in January 2013 Spielberg abruptly pulled the plug on the project, sayinghe found “a better way to tell the story,”thus delaying the film indefinitely.
It never came back around for Spielberg, who moved on toBridge of Spies,The BFG,The Post, and this year’s long-awaited return to blockbustersReady Player One, but Spielberg remains attached as a producer and Variety says Bay is now in talks to direct. This would be a reunion of sorts, as Spielberg was the one who tapped Bay to take the helm of the firstTransformersmovie. That obviously spawned a franchise for which Bay helmed a total of five separateTransformersfilms, but he’s apparently done with that series good.
The box office disaster ofTransformers: The Last Knightmay have something to do with that, as the film failed to gross more than $130 million domestic and came up $500 million short of its previous installment worldwide. It’s a little odd that Bay would return to a robot-centric actioner after directing fiveTransformersmovie, but you can’t say the dude doesn’t have an aesthetic.
Bay switched things up with the small-scale crime dramedyPain & Gainin 2013 and the true-story military actioner13 Hoursin 2016, but it sounds like he’ll be sticking strictly with action with his next two projects. Reese and Wernick are certainly hot at the moment coming offDeadpooland withDeadpool 2on the horizon, so it’ll be interesting to see what they’ve put together for6 Underground. The duo also wrote last year’s sci-fi thrillerLife.
