Megan Fox out of “Transformers 3″
Megan Fox (Associated Press file photo)
Director/demolitions expert Michael Bay and Paramount Pictures have decided to transform “Transformers 3″ into a Megan Fox-free sequel.
According to Variety, a studio spokeswoman disclosed Wednesday that Paramount has decided against picking up Fox’s option to star as Mikaela Banes in the third installment, but declined to elaborate.
The trade publication cites sources close to the production that indicated that the studio andBay want to take the storyline in another direction – and frankly, after the explosively unfun “Revenge of the Fallen,” virtually any direction would be an improvement – and plans to cast another actress as the love interest for star Shia LaBeouf, who plays Sam Witwicky.
Variety says those sources also indicated that Fox’s ouster was not related to a September interview with a British magazine in which Fox compared Bay to Adolf Hitler.
For her part, Fox, 24, claims she wasn’t booted from “Transformers 3″ but decided to walk.
“Megan Fox will not be starring in Transformers 3,” representatives for the actress told People. “It was her decision not to return. She wishes the franchise the best.”
“Transformers” is Paramount’s most valuable franchise, particularly since the studio is the sole financier, according to Variety. The first “Transformers” grossed $709.7 million worldwide, and last year’s “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” raked in $836.4 million despite dismal reviews.
Shooting for “Transformers 3″ is set to start this summer, with Bay directing from a script by Ehren Krueger.
The sequel, produced by Don Murphy, Tom DeSanto, Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Ian Bryce, is set to open July 1, 2011. Steven Spielberg is executive producing along with Bay, Brian Goldner and Mark Vahradian.
Patrick Dempsey, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich and Ken Jeong have signed on to the film. Kevin Dunn and Julie White will return in the roles of Ron and Judy Witwicky, the parents of the series’ lead.
No word on whether Bay and Paramount have decided to send jive-talking, nerve-grating, racial-stereotyping robots Skids and Mudflap out the door behind Fox. But we can all wish very, very hard that the only appearance the gold-toothed disasters make in the third film is in a junkyard car smasher in the opening moments.
As for Fox, she will be seen next opposite Josh Brolin in Warner Bros.’ supernatural Western “Jonah Hex,” opening June 18.
-BAM
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