With Transformers: Dark Of The Moon already closing in on half a billion dollars worldwide after just a week on release, any doubts that there would be a Transformers 4 have presumably completely vanished. Not that there was much doubt. In spite of the fact that director Michael Bay is moving onto new pastures, the franchise will continue under a new director.

The search for that director is presumably starting shortly, and consequently, the hunt for a new cast, too. Shia LaBeouf has said, too, that he won't be returning. And a name has now been mentioned that might just suddenly make the franchise a whole lot more interesting for those yet to be convinced by it.

The name? Jason Statham.

Appreciating that there are some who don't get our devotion to Jason Statham, he remains one of the very few movie stars who hasn't sold out, who hasn't attempted to stray too far beyond his areas of expertise, and, crucially, who hasn't tried to make one of those action stars in a kiddie movie high concept pieces of crap. We're looking at you, Vin Diesel.

The rumour has been broken by Showbiz Spy, which quotes a "Hollywood insider" as saying that Statham might be the man to take the franchise forward. The robots will never stand a chance.

Said insider adds that "It's clear the franchise still has huge potential but with a new leading man capable of taking Transformers in a new, darker direction. Jason could be just the man to do that and his relationship with Rosie would be an added bonus in marketing the movie."

Ah, yes. He's dating Transformers: Dark Of The Moon star, Rosie Huntingdon-Whiteley. Which presumably fuelled the rumour.

We've no idea whether this one is true. But crikey, we really, really hope it is. The robots would never stand a chance.

SOURCE