Transformers 5 Movie Release Date: Premiere Unlikely to be in 2016, Michael Bay Will Not Be Director

With the fourth installment of Transformers having garnered $243 million in the U.S. alone and $1.3 billion worldwide, fans are already eager to know about Transformers 5.

With these figures, one cannot doubt that there will be a fifth installment for the franchise. Some speculate that the next film is not likely to arrive until 2016. Some think that it will be on September, 2017. The first three installments of the Transformers franchise were released with a 2-year gap each.

Michael Bay, director of the previous Transformers movie, has announced in an interview with USA Today that he will not be directing the next film. According to him, he will ""pass the baton for future 'Transformer' movies while he turns his focus elsewhere."

Bay has hinted about passing the directing responsibility to someone else before, but it seems that it is only now that he has made up his mind.

Fans are already speculating as to who deserves to be the director for the new film. Some well-known directors are reportedly being considered, including Zach Snyder (Man of Steel, 300, Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice), J.J. Abrams (Star Wars Episode 7, Star Trek, Lost), Steven Spielberg (Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, ET), James Cameron (Terminator, Alien, Titanic) and Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Avengers).

Rumor has it that another actor, particularly Josh Duhamel, will be taking on the lead role. Some however speculate that it will be Megan Fox's turn this time.

Although 2016 and 2017 are still far away, things can change pretty fast especially in Hollywood, so tune in for updates to find out about the official release date of the much awaited Transformers 5.