'Transformers' release date for three sequels announced; 'Transformers 5' begins filming in May

On Friday, Feb. 12, Paramount Pictures announced the release dates for "Transformers 5," as well as two other "Transformers" films. "Transformers 5" is due out on June 23, 2017, "Transformers 6" on June 8, 2018, and "Transformers 7" on June 28, 2019.

The new yearly release schedule for the sci-fi action films is an ambitious and aggressive move for the franchise, which has previously seen a two- or three-year gap between films. According to Deadline, the recently-announced schedule has "Transformers 5" going toe-to-toe with the forthcoming "Wonder Woman," which stars Gal Gadot. It also has "Transformers 6" opening on the same weekend as "Godzilla 2."

News of the release schedule for the future "Transformers" films came as early as October 2015, when Hasbro Executive Vice President Steven J. Davis announced at an MIPJunior Q&A session that the next three "Transformers" sequels are already in development. 

"You're going to see a new 'Transformers' movie coming from Hasbro and Paramount and Michael Bay and our other partners," Davis said. "In fact, we just finished, as some of you may have read, just an incredible experience. We decided that we wanted to plot out the next 10 years of the 'Transformers' franchise, so we got together in a room over a three-month period of time."

Director Michael Bay is reportedly returning to helm "Transformers 5," as he did the first four films in the franchise. Also returning is "Transformers 4" lead actor Mark Wahlberg, who made his "Transformers" debut in that film.

"Transformers 4: Age of Extinction" managed to make more than $1 billion from worldwide ticket sales.

The fifth installment in the lucrative "Transformers" franchise is set to begin filming in May, industry tracker My Entertainment World has revealed. The shooting location for the upcoming film was not included in the website's report.