BOOM Edition 3 Jul 2016 Issue | Page 28

REPORT Transformers 5: Tyrese Gibson Confirms His Return W hen Transformers burst onto the big screen in 2007, it brought new life (and new technology) to beloved characters that have been around since 1984. The first film grossed over $700M worldwide, and was the jumping-off point for a now-billion dollar franchise. The Autobots are rolling out once more in Michael Bay’s fifth installment in the Transformers series. With films projected through at least a seventh installment, Michael Bay has hinted that this fifth film could very well be his last. As such, Bay is trying to stuff this film with as much nostalgia as he possibly can. Transformers: The Last Knight is blending its cast by incorporating characters from the first three films and characters from Transformers: Age of Extinction. Mark Wahlberg will be reprising his role as Cade Yager and there are rumors that Shia LaBeouf’s Sam Witwicky and Megan Fox as Michaela could also be returning. With Josh Duhamel being confirmed to return to the franchise with his original role as Colonel Lennox, it should come as no surprise, then, that Tyrese Gibson would be right back in the fray with his commanding officer, Sergeant Robert Epps. After some cryptic Instagram videos appeared on Michael Bay’s page (since removed), Tyrese confirmed in an interview with ET that he is, in fact, filming Transformers: The Last Knight. Were Tyrese’s videos from May just his way of trolling his fans, or was he still in negotiation for a role? Other actors confirmed for this film include Laura Haddock (DaVinci’s Demons), Isabela Moner (Growing Up Fisher), Anthony Hopkins (Thor, Westworld), Mitch Pileggi (The X-Files, Dallas), and Jerrod Carmichael (The Carmichael Show, Neighbors). The bulk of Transformers: The Last Knight will film in Detroit, with other locations including Cuba and London. With Transformers being confirmed through at least 2019 and the success of another of Hasbro’s properties, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (of which Michael Bay is a producer), could Paramount and Hasbro be leaning toward a massive cross-over event? In an exclusive interview with Brad Fuller (TMNT producer), he says he’s not heard a single mention of something so ambitious; but it’s safe to say that it’s not out of the question given Michael Bay’s penchant for huge blockbusters. Transformers: The Last Knight bows in U.S. theaters on June 23, 2017; with an as yet untitled Bumblebee spinoff on June 8, 2018; and Transformers 6 is slated for release on June 28, 2019. 28 | BOOM