Before Michael Bay returns to the world of Transformers on the big screen, he’ll be venturing to Miami, Florida for a smaller film called Pain and Gain. Based on a real life story from Miami New Times writer Pete Collins, the film follows two bodybuilders who capture and torture a wealthy businessman, who survives and hires a private detective to exact his revenge. Now it looks like Transformers stalwart John Turturro could join the film as the kidnapped businessman.

Latino Review‘s source tells them Albert Brooks – who was fantastic in last year’s Drive – was originally sought for the part, but the deal fell through and now Turturro is in talks to take his place. Variety recently reported that funnyman Rob Corrdy has signed on as a gym owner, Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson are set to star as the two bodybuilders, and just a couple of weeks ago we wrote about how Ed Harris is circling the detective role, so this cast is shaping up to be really excellent. LR says the script is reminiscent of a Coen Brothers film, and since Turturro is a frequent Coen collaborator, it sounds like a good match. Turturro’s role in the Transformers series was always cringe-worthy for me, so I’m glad he’s looking to move on for the time being. (If Josh Duhamel is to be believed, none of the original Transformers cast are coming back for future films, but I’d bet if anyone returns, it’ll be Turturro.)

Are you excited about Pain and Gain?

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Ed Harris is about to reunite with the director of The Rock while starring opposite The Rock. The veteran actor is reportedly joining Michael Bay’s Pain and Gain, the director’s smaller budget departure from the Transformers franchise.

Vulture has the story, and a pretty good rundown of the plot:

[It's] about several boneheaded Miami bodybuilders whose plot to kidnap, rob and murder a wealthy businessman yields decidedly mixed results: The left-for-dead victim recuperates in secret, and then hires a private detective to track down his kidnappers and exact revenge.

Harris is in talks for the detective role. This could very well turn into a situation in which Paramount gives Bay the funding for this passion project in return for the director helming another Transformers film afterwards. Bay has said before that the third film would be his last when it came to the robotic action flicks, but I’d imagine you can only say no for so long when they dump millions of dollars on your lawn as incentive. (Metaphorically, of course. Then again, we ARE talking about Michael Bay, so maybe he’d actually have them do that.)

Johnson is set as one of the bodybuilders. Mark Wahlberg was once in talks to play the other bodybuilder, but there’s no word yet on whether that part has been filled. Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (Captain America: The First Avenger) wrote the script, and with a spring shoot date lined up, we’ll know more about casting soon.

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Update: Bay has addressed the speculation on his official website:

Studio’s are passing rumors but I’m not sure what I’m doing? I know I’m going to do Pain and Gain early spring but that’s it for right now. I’m leaving all my options on the table. I’ve got several Studio meetings in the next two weeks.

While Michael Bay said earlier this year that Transformers: Dark of the Moon would be his last Transformers movie, it’s looking more likely that it won’t be. According to Vulture Bay is in final negotiations to direct a fourth film, but it won’t be the next movie he tackles.

Apparently Bay’s deal with Paramount will be on the condition that he gets to make his passion project Pain and Gain first. It’s a $20m budget thriller which focuses on extortion and abductions in the Florida criminal underworld, and over recent days there’s been speculation that Dwayne Johnson and Mark Wahlberg are circling the lead roles (although Wahlberg may have already passed). Bay has been trying to make the movie since 1999 (it’s based on a three-part New Times story) so it’ll give him an opportunity to take a break from robots.

Vulture says “while Paramount “does not have a closed deal” with Bay, the studio “is not far from closing” on one either, and that an announcement could come as early as next week”. Once/If a deal is struck Bay will shooting Pain and Gain early next year, and then enter production on Transformers 4 in late-2012. Pain and Gain, which has an original draft written by Captain America screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, isn’t too technically complex so Bay could prep T4 while finishing up P & G.

Shia LaBeouf has already said he doesn’t think he has “anything more to contribute” to the franchise so, assuming he doesn’t change his mind; we won’t be seeing Sam Witwicky in the next film. Personally I think it’s time a different director took over and gave us something new, but if Bay returns Paramount will happy knowing they have another billion dollar movie on the horizon.

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A few days ago Hasbo announced their intentions to move forward with Transformers 4, and were in “active discussions” with Paramount, Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg.

Following this Variety ran a report which said Shia LaBeouf won’t be returning, however Jason Statham’s name “has been bandied about by sources close to the production” as the new lead and the plan by Paramount was to shoot Transformers 4 and 5 back-to-back. Now, thanks to the power of the internet, both Jason Statham and Michael Bay have addressed the speculation.

Firstly Statham (who is romantically involved with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, so was probably a frequent visitor to the Dark of the Moon set) told MTV:

“You know, I don’t know how those things start. You read them. Someone told me about it. [But] the internet is a dangerous place,” he laughed. “There’s a lot of stuff out there.”

Not to say that Statham would be completely opposed to a “Transformers” movie: “I’ve got a lot of stuff in front of me, but Michael Bay is a talented man. This last one just made a billion dollars around the world, so people like his films. He’s a talented man.”

Actors playing coy is nothing new, but director Michael Bay is known for telling things how it is (like he did when Paramount first set a 2011 release date for Dark of the Moon), and he took to his website to deny the speculation.

I am currently not talking to Paramount on T4 and T5 despite reports. I’m looking at a lot of possibilities coming my way right now weighing options. Most likely going to be doing the low budget Pain and Gain, a true story crime thriller. It’s a very quick shoot and quite funny. Also just finishing the 3 disc set of the Transformer trilogy.

Michael

This doesn’t mean Bay won’t enter talks at some point, as i’m sure Hasbro and Paramount will want Bay involved with the Transformers franchise going forward, whether as director or producer.

As for Pain and Gain, it’s a $20m budget thriller which focuses on extortion and abductions in the Florida criminal underworld. I’m sure this will be a breath of fresh air for Bay having worked more than 5 years solidly on the Transformers movies. It’ll also give him the chance to focus more on an actual story, instead of just destroying cities.

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A few weeks ago Michael Bay had a meeting with Steven Spielberg and Ehren Kruger to discuss ideas for Transformers 3 and to decide whether it would be released in 2011 or 2012. Before Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen burst into public viewing Bay said he wanted to have a break from robots and planned to make a small movie (Pain and Gain) before starting the next one, however from what he posted on his official forum today it looks like he’ll be going straight back into it:

Well its official: We have a great Transformers 3 story. The release date is now July 1st 2011. Not 2012.

Today is Day One. This morning started with an ILM meeting for five hours in San Francisco. Currently I’m flying with writer Ehren Kruger to Rhode Island to talk to Hasbro about new characters.

P.S. Megan Fox, welcome back. I promise no alien robots will harm you in any way during the production of this motion picture. Please consult your Physician when working under my direction because some side effects can occur, such as mild dizziness, intense nausea, suicidal tendencies, depression, minor chest hair growth, random internal hemorrhaging and inability to sleep. As some directors may be hazardous to your health, please consult your Doctor to determine if this is right for you.

Pain and Gain is right after shooting of Trans 3.

Michael

Bay has had a 3 month break which I think is long enough, but then again I haven’t directed one of the biggest movies of the year so I’m no expert on what counts as a sufficient break. Even if Bay wasn’t quite ready yet i’m sure the money was enough to convince him. He apparently made $75 million from the first Transformers movie as he decided to take a % of the film’s total revenues instead of an upfront fee. He probably made a similar stupidly high amount for Revenge of the Fallen and I bet Paramount were busy filling Bay’s swimming pool full of cash as he typed up today’s post for his forum.

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