Shortly after the release of the blockbuster hit Transformers: Age of Extinction, Michael Bay was reported to have submitted his release papers to Paramount Pictures.

But Mark Wahlberg, who had worked with Bay in previous projects, including Pain & Gain, believes the director will return in the fifth installment of the Transformers franchise as its director. In an interview with Collider, Wahlberg was beaming with confidence he will be reunited with the director in Transformers 5.

"I don't [know the status of Transformers 5]," commented Wahlberg. "Just that Akiva Goldsman and those guys are starting to write and break stories, and stuff like that. But Michael Bay is in Malta shooting Benghazi, and I'm in New Orleans shooting Deepwater. We'll get together when he gets back. Yes [I think he'll direct it]."

One thing is sure, Bay is heavily involved in the pre-production of Transformers 5 as he is still the movie's executive producer.  The director is working closely with Paramount's team of writers, including his protégé, Jonathan Liebesman and led by Goldman, who are now busy creating ideas for the next Transformers installment and possible spinoff of the franchise.

Keeping Bay on the Transformers project is a smart move by Paramount. After all, Bay is credited for the blockbuster success of the first four Transformers movies. Transformers 4: Age of Extinction earned more than $1 billion across the globe and was the highest-grossing movie in China despite drawing negative reviews from critics. All the four Transformers movies directed by Bay made more than $3.8 billion worldwide.

Previously, Bay suggested that Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Transformers: Dark of the Moon would be his last at the directorial helm, only to return on the fourth installment, said Ecumenical News.

One of the film's producers, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, echoed sentiments at Paramount about their reluctance to replace Bay. Di Bonaventura said, "I guess if you had to think about who would be the next one, my guess is it would be somebody who probably was a kid who watched the show as a kid because then they'll have a fundamental understanding of the D.N.A. in a way. And are able to bring that thing that you have when you've grown up with it. It sinks into you in a different way."

The Transformers 5 is expected to be set mostly in space after Optimus Prime was seen leaving Earth in the last scene of Transformers 4 in search of the 'Creators'. The Creator are the Quintessons, which is an ancient race of Transformers. This could lead to battle between creation and creator, according to Cross Map.

The new Transformers 5 movie will feature a new cast of robots, including Ultra Magnus, Blitzwing, Scourge, Cyclonus, Override, and Red Alert. In the animation series, Optimus Prime appointed Ultra Magnus to take command on Earth after he went to space to confront the Decepticons that were drifting through space where he met the ultimate evil, Unicron.

The reports said that the introduction of  of Cyclonus and Scourge could indicate that Unicron has sent some new Decepticons that he recycled using parts from other dead robots, and to prepare for his plan to consume Earth.

Transformers 5 is scheduled for release in 2016, Paramount said in earlier statement.