Josh Duhamel Says No Actors Returning For Transformers 4

Josh Duhamel has told E! Online that he believes none of the original cast members will be returning for Transformers 4, which has been confirmed this week as a reboot. Though do note when we say 'reboot' think more along the lines of The Bourne Legacy where the studio cast a new leading actor but it is clear it is confined within the same universe and continuity (Jason Bourne is purposefully mentioned in the trailer for one thing). However when you look more closely at what Josh Duhamel actually told E!, it is clear that his story isn't as sensational as it sounds from a distance. Duhamel has based his whole reasoning for none of the original actors from the series returning on the basis that, in his own words, "they haven't called me." Here is his full quote;

"I don't think anybody's doing it. I know Shia 's not doing it. I don't think Tyrese or Rosie or anybody else is doing it. Whenever these movies make that much money they're going to make as many as they can. I haven't heard anything about it."

Of course we already knew Shia LaBeouf wasn't returning for another paycheque but we do believe Rosie Huntington-Whiteley will be back, especially as we have heard her real life boyfriend Jason Statham is rumoured to be eyed as the new franchise lead by Paramount who want to move the series into more of an adult realm. But with director Michael Bay having just signed up to make the film this week, which possibly hasn't even had one word of plot written (no writer has yet been hired but we believe it will be Transformers 3 scribe Ehren Khruger returning) and with no filming likely to begin until next year as Bay is making Pain & Gain next, no casting decisions are likely to be made for months. This sounds like Duhamel has been reading the trades like all of us and seen the word 'reboot' and with knowing LaBeouf isn't returning has come to a premature assumption. I mean Bay has only been officially on board this film since Monday... why would he be so desperate to call Josh Duhamel at this stage? Transformers 4 (which obviously won't be called that) will be hitting theaters on June 27, 2014.