Previous reports had suggested that Michael Bay’s was set to shoot Transformers 4 this summer in Chicago, but it’s now been revealed that the action sequel will actually start shooting in Detroit this spring. One of the main reasons for this is that The Michigan Film Board has granted a $20 million incentive on the proposed $81.9 million Paramount plan to spending in the state.
The Film Board has issues a press release about getting the production to their state, which includes the first info on the plot of the movie, which will see a complete overhaul of the human cast. Here it is, ‘As humanity picks up the pieces, following the conclusion of Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Autobots and Decepticons have all but vanished from the face of the planet. However, a group of powerful, ingenious businessman and scientists attempt to learn from past Transformer incursions and push the boundaries of technology beyond what they can control – all while an ancient, powerful Transformer menace sets Earth in his crosshairs. The epic adventure and battle between good and evil, freedom and enslavement ensues.’
2007’s Transformers and 2011’s Transformers: Dark of the Moon were both shot in Detroit. It isn’t known how long the production will remain in Michigan, although it does appear the movie will probably also shoot in Chicago, presumably for exteriors and big action sequences. The story, written by Ehren Kruger, will be set four years after the events in 2011’s Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, and Jack Reynor are the only confirmed cast members at this point.
Michael Bay isn’t afraid of casting unknown faces, although he normally does it with female characters, such as Megan Fox in Transformers and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (who may have been known as a model but had no acting experience) in Transformers: Dark Of The Moon. Now he’s done it with one of the young male characters in Transformers 4.