Rumor: Transformers triology

Firstshowing is spreading a rumor that studio executives have already agreed that Transformers (Michael Bay) will become a trilogy/franchise, which is really pretty stupid since they don't have the first clue how well the film will do in theaters. I don't mean to call them dumb, or their decision dumb, really it's this retarded rumor coming from a British site called Digital Spy.

Studio bosses have given early approval for two sequels to the Transformers remake due out in July. Director Michael Bay has also told how his version of the 1980s cartoon classic is heavy on the special effects and has cost some £50 million.

I have a hard time believing that any studio, much less Steven Speilberg's DreamWorks would make such a blind leap of faith. This is the movie business we're talking about here, these guys are more serious about money than the banking industry is. I could see them getting together and making this decision within 24 hours of seeing opening day returns, but not beforehand.

As far as I know, it's not uncommon for studios to add options to contracts for potential sequels, but that's pretty standard stuff. You want to get the cast and producers locked in at a moderate price for subsequent films, no matter how well (or badly) the first one does. If it bombs, the options quietly expire. If it explodes, they can't use it as leverage to get better deals right off the bat.

That, however, is far from what we're talking about here. This rumor is that DreamWorks has already ok'ed two more films, no matter how this one does. I don't believe it, and since this "article" doesn't cite a single source (not even an anonymous source) for where this information comes from, I'm inclined to think they are just making it up.

Not cool.

Topics: Film, Transformers, Michael Bay, DreamWorks