It’s official!Transformers: The Last Knightis starting production this week. And it will be the second big budget Hollywood movie to shoot inCubafollowingFast & Furious 8, which arrived in the country last month. DirectorMichael Bayconfirmed the news on his personalInstagramaccount. Though, he has revealed little else yet. We can surely expect the filmmaker to drop plenty of behind-the-scenes images as shooting gets underway.
Fast 8was the first major Hollywood production to shoot in Cuba in the past 50 years, after the U.S. lifted the longstanding trade embargo and eased travel restrictions into the country.Conanalso took his talk show there earlier this year, and it appears to be the new premiere destination for TV and movie productions. We’re not sure how Cuba will be utilized inThe Last Knight, but we’re pretty positiveMichael Baywill bring his destructive hand to the country. After Optimus Prime and the rest of the Autobots get done, perhaps Hollywood won’t be allowed back in.
This has been a big week forTransformers 5. Not only didThe Last Knighttitle get officially announced by Hasbro and Paramount, it was confirmed thatJosh Duhamelwill return as Lieutenant Colonel Lennox. It will be his fourth movie in the franchise, having been introduced in the 2007 original and going onto appear in 2009’sRevenge of the Fallenand 2011’sDark of the Moon. He skipped out on 2014’sAge of Extinction.
Tyrese Gibson, who played Lennox’s partner Epps, has also expressed his interest in returning, having sat outTransformers 4withDuhamel.Bayis keeping the actor on the ropes for the time being, and refuses to confirmGibson’s return quite yet. It’s possible that other original trilogy stars such asShia LaBeoufand Megan Fox will return.Foxwas notoriously removed from the third movie and replaced byRosie Huntington-Whiteleyafter comparingBayto Hitler. The filmmaker and actress later made up, withMegan Foxnow headlining the human side of theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesfranchise.
The Last Knighthas Optimus Prime searching through the cosmos for the Quintessons, the beings believed to be responsible for the creation of theTransformersrace. Meanwhile back at home,Wahlberg’s Cade Yeager will be facing a new alien threat that brings Lennox (and possibly Epps) back into duty.Isabela Monerhas signed on as the female lead, though no character details have been revealed. The movie also hasJerrod Carmichaelfrom NBC’sThe Carmichael Showas the comedic relief this time out. Shooting will take place inDetroit, with various on-location shoots planned to take place throughout the world.
Iron ManwritersArt Marcum&Matt Hollowayare joined byBlack Hawk DownwriterKen Nolanon the screenplay. Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Don Murphy and Tom DeSanto return to produce this highly anticipated sequel.Transformers 5will be followed by aBumblebeespin-off movie in 2018, beforeTransformers 6hits theaters in 2019. More updates onThe Last Knightare expected soon. You can take atMichael Bay’s latest update below, which recycles the title announcement from earlier in the week.
