Now that director Michael Bay has wrapped on his low-budget crime thriller Pain and Gain, he is shifting focus to Transformers 4. While this new adventure will feature a whole new cast, the filmmaker doesn't think it should be called a reboot.

""It's not a reboot, that's maybe the wrong word. I don't want to say reboot because then people will think we're doing a Spider-Man and starting from the beginning. We're not. We're taking the story that you've seen - the story we've told in three movies already - and we're taking it in a new direction. But we're leaving those three as the history. It all still counts. I met with the writer before I went off to do Pain and Gain and we talked about a bunch of ideas. We let that simmer for a bit. He's been thinking about stuff and now we're getting back together next week to see what we've got and to see if it gels."

When asked if this new story may take the franchise into outer space and Cybertron, the filmmaker hinted they are leaning in that direction.

""I think so, yeah, a little. That feels like the way to go, doesn't it? I want to go a little off but I don't want to go too sci-fi. I still want to keep it grounded. That's what works in these movies, that's what makes it accessible."

Despite this possible new setting, which would likely lead to a bigger effects budget, the director said Paramount wants to make a significant cut from his budget on Transformers: Dark of the Moon.

"It's going to be less, actually. Our mandate is to cut about $30 million."

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