'Transformers' Franchise Adds 'The Walking Dead' Creator Robert Kirkman and More

Ready or not, Paramount's Transformers franchise is getting bigger. A lot bigger. If that sounds crazy considering Michael Bay's four gargantuan films so far, think of more sequels and yep, even a few spinoffs. That's what the studio began building a couple of months ago when they assembled a "writer's room" to begin mapping out this expanded Transformers universe, and now that group of screenwriters just got a few high-profile additions.

Previously said to consist of Akiva Goldsman, Steven Spielberg, and Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, the brain trust has now added The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman, Iron Man duo Art Marcum and Matt Holloway, Fringe writer Jeff Pinkner, and X-Men: The Last Stand's Zak Penn. They'll be responsible for launching multi-part sequels and standalone films that will expand the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons. 

Last year's Transformers: Age of Extinction earned $1.1B, the second Transformers film to top the $1B mark, so sparing no expense is in Paramount's best interests. The next Transformers movie could arrive in 2017 but hasn't been confirmed yet, nor do we know if Michael Bay will return to direct.