The battle against the Decepticons continues. It has been confirmed that the fifth installment to the hugely successful Transformers series will be released in the summer of 2017. What is not confirmed is whether Michael Bay will return to the director's seat to take the helm in the much-anticipated Transformers 5.

There had been multiple rumors that Michael Bay is not returning following his submission of his release papers to Paramount Pictures after the Transformers: Age of Extinction. But Paramount has not yet given up on him. For sure, Paramount is convinced that Michael Bay can continue wielding his magic wand in the box office after the four Transformers movies earned a total of $4 billion. Transformers: Age of Extinction earned more than $1 billion worldwide despite drawing criticisms.

Reports have also indicated that Paramount has hired Michael Bay as a consultant to a team of top-notch sci-fi writers, including  Jeff Pickner (Amazing Spiderman 2, Fringe, and Lost), Zack Penn (X-Men the Last Stand and Pacific Rim 2), Matt Holloway and Art Marcus (Iron Man), Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead), reported Christian Daily. The crème of the crop writers are described reaching an Optimus Prime level of quality.

Michael Bay's protégé, Jonathan Liebesman, who directed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, is also rumored to be the likely replacement of Bay for the Transformers 5.

Mark Wahlberg, has also confirmed he would reprise his role in the next edition of Transformers. In an interview with MTV, Wahlberg not only revealed that he will be returning to the film series, which is set to begin filming very soon, but that Bay may be back. "I can't speak for Mr. Bay, but something tells me we'll be on the set soon."

Wahlberg said he would be making two more Tansformers movies and added, "Yeah, I committed to doing a couple more. I can't speak for Mr. Bay, but something tells me we'll be on set soon."

The new Transformers 5 movie will features 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 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.

The appearance of the Dinobots in the Transformers: Age of Extinction could also indicate that the producers of the franchise are planning a Beast Wars spinoff.

"Transformers 5" will be released some time in 2017. The film also stars Megan Fox, Shia LaBeouf, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor, Peter Cullen, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer and other surprise casts.