Casting Transformers 8: 10 Actors Who Could Lead Michael Bay & Steven Spielberg's New Movie

Published Oct 10, 2026, 11:30 AM EDT

Cooper Hood is the Associate Editor for all new movie releases, in theaters and on streaming. In addition to writing articles about these titles and upcoming releases, he also oversees content planning for each, ensuring that ScreenRant continues to cover major releases for months after their release.

He has written various reviews for ScreenRant that appear on Rotten Tomatoes, coordinated Oscars and San Diego Comic-Con coverage, appeared on CNN to talk about Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, and done select interviews with talent over the years.

Paramount and Skydance have enlisted Michael Bay to take over Transformers, and his franchise return means he needs a new star to act opposite the Autobots and Decepticons. For as much as some fans may want a human-free Transformers movie, that is not in the cards for any live-action adaptation of Hasbro's iconic toys.

When Bay first tackled this world, it was Shia LaBeouf who stepped into the franchise leading role of Sam Witwicky. He occupied this place for the first trilogy, before LaBeouf chose not to return for Transformers: Age of Extinction. This left Bay to find a new human lead, casting his Pain & Gain star Mark Wahlberg to play Cade Yeager for the next two films.

While there is a chance LaBeouf or Wahlberg could return to headline Steven Spielberg and Michael Bay's new Transformers movie, there is arguably a greater chance that someone new is brought in to lead the series. Paramount may want the filmmaker's name recognition and franchise familiarity without the need to continue previous storylines and character arcs.

If Bay and Spielberg do need a new Transformers star, there will be no shortage of actors who want the part. This global franchise can greatly enhance an actor's popularity and deliver significant paydays when it works. For various reasons, it would not be a surprise to see any of these names ultimately be linked to the new Transformers casting process.

10 Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds was the first person to come to mind when considering who Bay could enlist alongside the Autobots. He is already a hugely popular star thanks to playing Deadpool. His knack for comedy and action would pair well with what Transformers likes to do, with his writing and improv abilities an added benefit, as he could help keep the humor from falling flat.

It also should be noted how connected Reynolds is to the team behind this new Transformers. He previously worked with Bay on the Netflix action movie 6 Underground. Reynolds also has a strong working relationship with Skydance, as the studio helped produce his last two non-Marvel movies, Netflix's The Adam Project and Apple's Mayday.

Considering the latter's success, Skydance courting Reynolds to lead the next iteration of Transformers would be smart. This would also give the actor a new franchise to headline that allows him to show his normal face.

9 Adria Arjona

Adria Arjona is in the midst of becoming a bigger action movie star after leading Onslaught. She's got a highly secretive role in Man of Tomorrow scheduled for next year, which could turn her into one of the industry's most sought-after actresses if the Wonder Woman rumors prove to be true.

With Warner Bros. now under Skydance, extending their investment in her career to a prominent Transformers part would make sense. Arjona is also not a stranger to Bay, as she had a supporting role in 6 Underground. It would be exciting to see them reunite after several years and see her step into a much larger role.

ChronoLogic

Rearrange the movies into the correct US release order.

Depending on how the film handles the Transformers timeline, Arjona could even play a grown-up Izabella from Transformers: The Last Knight, who was previously played by Isabela Merced.

8 Brandon Sklenar

Paramount Pictures

If Skydance wants a shot at one of Hollywood's rising stars leading the next Transformers era, casting Brandon Sklenar could be the way to go. He's no stranger to Paramount thanks to his roles in Taylor Sheridan's streaming hit 1923. Skydance is already heavily invested in his stock after the merger, too, as he's set to lead two 2027 films: the Western thriller The Rescue and the Sheridan-scripted action thriller F.A.S.T.

Sklenar's casting for Transformers would be a signal that Skydance is very confident in how those films will do and the actor's profile continuing to rise. Since he's still in his mid-30s, there would be plenty of time for Sklenar to lead multiple entries in the franchise, so long as the next Bay movie is a hit.

7 Yahya Abdul-Matteen II

Juan Rosas/Netflix

The new Transformers could also make a great bit of casting by getting Yahya Abdul-Matteen II aboard. The Wonder Man and Man on Fire star is not as proven a movie star as some other names on this list, but he has blockbuster experience thanks to two Aquaman films, The Matrix Resurrections, and carrying the modern Candyman reboot. Most importantly, he has the talent to get the job done.

Abdul-Matteen is one of the last stars to work with Bay, as he was one of the leads in his 2022 action thriller Ambulance. In the years since, the actor has spoken positively about what it was like to collaborate with the filmmaker in interviews. If Bay feels the same way, then a reunion for Transformers would be a fantastic outcome.

6 Eiza González

MovieStillsDB

Another one of Bay's Ambulance stars, Eiza González is a terrific candidate to take over Transformers. Like Yahya, she's not a proven movie star, someone who can undoubtedly carry a major franchise and get audiences to the theaters on her own. But she wouldn't be required to do so with the recognizability that comes with Transformers.

She routinely steals movies she's in, so her ability to draw viewers in would do wonders here. González is versatile enough to handle any action, comedy, or emotionality that would be required, too.

5 Miles Teller

Miles Teller could be a strong fit for the next iteration of Transformers. He is well-equipped to lead big genre movies, having done so recently with Apple's hit sci-fi movie, The Gorge, which Skydance produced. Teller also showed off his intensity and charisma with Top Gun: Maverick, where he played a key part in Paramount's global success.

He's sure to be back for Top Gun 3, but with production taking longer to get off the ground, Paramount could look to get Teller aboard one of its other major franchises. Considering how unlikely it is that Top Gun ever truly moves on from Tom Cruise as the lead, Transformers could be the major IP that keeps Teller as one of the industry's biggest stars.

4 Jake Gyllenhaal

When Bay last needed a new franchise star for Transformers, he turned to the biggest star he last worked with, Wahlberg. Now that he's coming back to the realm of Autobots, it would not be a surprise if he did the same and looked toward his Ambulance headliner, Jake Gyllenhaal.

He's one of the most versatile stars in Hollywood, and while he spent years doing more serious material, he's really embraced big, fun movies lately: Spider-Man: Far From Home, Ambulance, Road House, and In the Grey. It would be understandable for him to cash in on a leading role in one of Hollywood's biggest franchises, and Bay's involvement could make Transformers the pick.

3 Scarlett Johansson

As an A-list movie star, Scarlett Johansson is someone Bay and the studios should consider. She's a veteran of blockbuster franchises and CGI-heavy productions, thanks to years as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and her recent headlining role in Jurassic World: Rebirth. She's also not a stranger to the Autobot franchise, having played Elita-1 in Transformers One.

Johansson and Bay previously worked together on the 2005 sci-fi action movie The Island, but it is a bit unclear how eager the movie star would be to be part of one of his productions again. She's said that making The Island was a challenge and called him both "lovely" and "rude" in a 2005 interview. Johansson then gave a slight jab on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last year that directors are often the last people to leave a set, except for Bay.

Johansson has a box office track record that Transformers should want, too, but perhaps she wouldn't be interested in a Bay reunion. It wouldn't hurt to call, though, just to be sure.

2 Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise is one name Skydance is almost assured to inquire about for Transformers. The actor and studio have a long-standing relationship, having collaborated on the last five Mission: Impossible movies, both Jack Reacher films, and Top Gun: Maverick. If Transformers is undergoing a reset and needs a bankable star at its center, Cruise makes a ton of sense.

Bay and Cruise have never worked together before, and it's unclear how well they would mesh during production, but the potential entertainment value they could produce together is high. Transformers might as well aim high for its next lead, and Cruise may just be willing to help reinvent the series to help him rebound from Digger's box office disaster.

1 Will Smith

©Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection

In a similar vein, Bay and Skydance might as well check in on another globally recognized star and see if Will Smith would want to head to Transformers. Smith and Bay's history goes back to Bad Boys and Bad Boys II, where they teamed up to make two culturally significant and popular action movies.

They haven't joined forces since then, with Bay exiting their planned reunion for Fast and Loose over creative differences. That would make a reunion for Transformers quite a big deal. Smith would bring years of action movie experience, box office credibility, and a familiarity with Bay. All would be to the benefit of the next Transformers.