Michael Bay Returns to Direct 'Transformers 5', Says 'This is the Last One'

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The "Transformers" franchise earned billions of dollars over the span of four films and eight years. "Transformers: Age of Extinction," which just like the other films was directed by the acclaimed Michael Bay, was released in 2014 and earned 1.104 billion worldwide. The first three films featured Shia LaBeouf as protagonist Sam Witwicky while the 2014 film starred Mark Wahlberg.

Entertainment Weekly reports that in a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Bay confirmed that a fifth installment of the "Transformers" franchise is indeed taking place.

"The middle-[budget] movie is basically gone. They just want these big movies," the 50-year-old filmmaker said. "[With] 'Transformers,' I still have a great time. It’s fun to do a movie that 100 million people will see. But this is the last one. I have to pass the reins to someone else."

According to Cinemablend, Bay added, "J.J. [Abrams] told me, ‘You’re the only guy that could do this.’ But it’s time to move on."

Bay was initially not supposed to be involved with "Transformers: Age of Extinction," but Collider reported that Paramount announced the director's return in 2012.

Meanwhile, Bay is busy promoting his new film, "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi," which is based on the novel "13 Hours" by Mitchell Zuckoff with a screenplay by Chuck Hogan. The film stars James Badge Dale, John Krasinski, and Toby Stephens as soldiers who are tasked to defend the American Ambassador following an attack in Benghazi, Libya.

If Bay's previous work is any indication, "13 Hours" is set to be another box office hit that would yield millions, just like "Armageddon, "Pearl Harbor," and "Bad Boys." Daily Mail reports that in the span of 11 films Bay directed, he had grossed over $5 billion, placing him in good company with the highly acclaimed Steven Spielberg and James Cameron.

However, Bay is looking to give away a portion of his wealth to charitable causes. He said, "You save up your money and you give it away. That's what I'm going to do. I'll probably do a very large wildlife-protection fund–something with Africa and big game...One day."

But despite his massive franchises, Bay is one of those who hasn't been honored by the Academy Awards. The director says, however, that it does not bother him at all.

"I'm not losing sleep over it," Bay admitted. "You reach a point in your life when you're comfortable with who you are and you don't need to prove anything to anybody. Do what makes you happy."

For now, it seems that helming films continues to make Bay happy, and fans would be equally happy to see him back for "Transformers" fifth film, set to be released in 2017.