As the pre-production for Transformers 5 is in a state of limbo, the release date for the sequel to Age of Extinction which was initially being pitched for 2016, might be pushed into 2017.

A Primer On The Top Players In The Beast Wars For Transformers 5 

Initially, following the release of Age of Extinction it was revealed that Transformers 5 would be hitting theaters sometime in 2016. But since Michael Bay divorced himself from the franchise, there has also been uncertainty about the cast related with the movie. Another report suggested that the release date for the sequel had been pushed back to 2017 from 2016.

This suggestion seems viable as, although the producers and Paramount had originally envisioned a 2016 release for the Age of Extinction sequel, they had not prepared for the kind of uncertainty the project is now fruaght with. At the time, it was assumed that Michael Bay would continue with the franchise. As the director has reportedly abandoned the project and there is no word of the Age of Extinction star cast reprising their role, it seems like Paramount needs to take more time to rethink its gameplan.

Latest Updates About Transformers 5  

On August 11, IndieWire reported that Bay had hinted at the fact that he might not be as keen on directing the sequel to Age of Extinction. The revelation came from an MTV interview, the director did just after wrapping work on Transformers 4. "There's a lot that's unexplored, but that's for the next director to figure out," he said.

Bay also went on to talk about how tough it was working on the series and it took a lot of time and effort.

"They're hard movies to do and it takes every day for two years. They're fun, but they're hard," he said.

There had been plenty speculation about Bay not coming on board for the next movie, including talk of him only agreeing to direct Transformers 5 on the condition that the producers allow him to direct a smaller, passion project, like Pain and Gain last year, before working on the mega blockbuster franchise.

"There's kind of a new chapter, a new direction in movies I want to make," Bay said. "I have a lot of stories to tell. And it's about flexing new muscles."

But there could be other more compelling reasons for Bay divorcing frmo the franchise. We speculate it might have had something to do with Transformers 4: Age of Extinction being a massive critical failure. The movie might have done tremendously well at the box office, but it was consistently panned by critics. Most recently a hilarious honest trailer calling the movie a "Michael Bay crap fest."

Transformers: Age of Extinction hit theaters on June 27, 2014.

Watch the trailer for Age of Extinction:

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