It's Official: Shia LaBeouf Not Returning for Fourth 'Transformers' Film

While the news that Shia LaBeouf is not returning for Michael Bay's next "Transformers" film it not entirely surprising, it still helps clarify some of the elements of the upcoming fourth entry in the franchise. The Hollywood Reporter (via The Playlist), recently sat down with Paramount president Adam Goodman, and the interview yielded all sorts of information about upcoming Paramount films, including the next "Transformers."

When THR asked Goodman, "Is making 'Transformers 4' without Shia LaBeouf risky? Is he out?", the executive responded, "The story is going in a different direction now. Ehren Kruger [who wrote the past two 'Transformers' movies] is writing it for us, and we're starting to engage, but I can't say anything more. "

Back in February, when the news hit that those transforming space cars would be back, along with director Bay, the filmmaker released his own statement about the film on his website. In that post, Bay said, "Steven Spielberg and I are working on a whole new reimagining of Transformers, the fourth installment. We have been working on the idea for a few months. I'm excited about where it's headed." While details are slim, given that Bay coined the film "a reimagining" so early in the process, it's no surprise that LaBeouf won't be back.

As The Playlist points out, LaBeouf has already said essentially the same thing, as he told MTV News last year: "I just don't think right now there's anywhere to take Sam. And it's not that I don't enjoy working with Michael. I love working with Michael. I would do any movie Michael wants to do. I just don't think there's anywhere to take it with Sam."

The fourth "Transformers" film will be released on June 29, 2014. Who would you like to see star in it?