Michael Bay Still Considering A 'Transformers 4' Return

Promises, promises.

Leading up to last summer's premiere of "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," both director Michael Bay and franchise star Shia LaBeouf individually claimed that film, the third in the billion-grossing Paramount franchise, would be each's last "Transformers" experience.

Ah, but when that money tree shakes, people feel the tremors.

As has been the case with all three movies, critics universally panned the movie. It earned a 35% "freshness" rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 42/100 Metacritic score. It also grossed $1.12 billion off a $195-million budget. Combined, the "Transformers" franchise's three movies have grossed $2.67 billion worldwide.

While Bay obviously can't speak for LaBeouf, it's pretty clear why he's now reconsidering helming "Transformers 4."

"I hope so, because I think he made the best of the three with this last one," said franchise producer Steven Spielberg. "I certainly can't imagine anybody other than Michael being equipped to make another 'Transformers.' He's invented a genre and he's got the secret formula."

Speaking at the unveiling of "Transformers: The Ride" in Singapore recently, Bay admitted that he may do a fourth film, but wants to make his smaller-budget "Pain And Gain" first. "We're talking about it, but there's nothing right now," he said during an unveiling  “Transformers: The Ride" in Singapore.

"I'm going to do a tiny movie first, then we'll talk about it, if I potentially do it," said Bay.