'Transformers' Franchise Sequel Eyes 'Creed 2' Director Steven Caple Jr

Steven Caple Jr., the director of 2018’s “Creed II,” is being eyed to direct the next film in the “Transformers” franchise for Paramount and Hasbro Studios, an individual with knowledge told TheWrap.

Caple Jr., who is not yet in negotiations for the job, would direct the follow-up to “Bumblebee” as part of the revamped “Transformers” universe of films following Michael Bay’s original franchise. Joby Harold wrote the screenplay that was one of several scripts to come out of a writers’ room the studio established to re-imagine the “Transformers” universe, while the other was written by James Vanderbilt.

The next “Transformers” film currently has a targeted release date of June 24, 2022.

Also Read: Classic Sci-Fi Hero 'Buck Rogers' to Get Big-Screen Revival at Legendary

The “Transformers” franchise has grossed $4.84 billion globally dating back to 2007. 2018’s “Bumblebee” directed by Travis Knight however only made $467.9 million worldwide compared to the prior five films by Bay. Paramount is also in the works on an animated “Transformers” film that has “Toy Story 4” director Josh Cooley attached.

Caple Jr. made his feature debut on “The Land” in 2016, and he then directed Michael B. Jordan in the 2018 follow-up to “Creed.” “Creed II” grossed $214.2 million worldwide.

Harold is the writer on Zack Snyder’s upcoming “Army of the Dead” for Netflix and is also attached to the untitled Obi-Wan Kenobi “Star Wars” series.

Caple Jr. is represented by WME.

Deadline first reported the news.

All 6 'Transformers' Movies Ranked Worst to Best

"Transformers" is probably the weirdest and craziest major movie franchise -- an admirable thing if you're an aficionado of action-heavy genre trash like I am. So how do they all stack up?
Paramount
6. "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" (2009)

Everything about this one is just ... too much. And the Arcee (RC) Twins, aka the Racial Caricature Bots, are simply inexcusable.
Paramount
5. "Transformers: Age of Extinction" (2014)

Michael Bay's libertarian screed is amusing enough, but kind of frustratingly straightforward. We prefer when these movies wallow in paranoid government conspiracy theories.
Paramount
4. "Transformers: The Last Knight" (2017)

Easily the most incomprehensible of the "Transformers" movies, but also the funniest -- thanks in no small part to Anthony Hopkins having the absolute time of his life. It may also be the most visually striking of all of Michael Bay's movies.
Paramount
3. "Transformers" (2007)

By the standards of this franchise, the first movie was the closest to being a "normal" film. It's wonderful, but not quite excessive enough.
Paramount
2. "Bumblebee" (2018)

Travis Knight's spinoff film is more chill, more coherent and generally more sane than the Michael Bay ones. And, yes, it's delightful. Hailee Steinfeld is a miracle for the way she's able to conjure up all those emotions acting against a CGI robot.
Paramount
1. "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" (2011)

The third movie, however, is exactly excessive enough, with a third act that's just a solid hour of urban robot warfare. Plus, there's John Malkovich being weird and Frances McDormand as the requisite government stooge. To cap it all off, you've got the traitorous Leonard Nimoy-bot presciently attempting to usher in the apocalypse from Trump Tower in Chicago.
Paramount

1 of 7

How do the Hasbro-based movies stack up?

"Transformers" is probably the weirdest and craziest major movie franchise -- an admirable thing if you're an aficionado of action-heavy genre trash like I am. So how do they all stack up?

View In Gallery

All 6 'Transformers' Movies Ranked Worst to Best

7DAYFREETRIAL

7
DAY
FREE
TRIAL