Why did Megan Fox leave Transformers?

Megan Fox's abrupt exit from the Transformers franchise was possibly due to the problematic comment she made about the film’s director Michael Bay.

The Transformers franchise is a series of science fiction action films comprising eight films directed by different Hollywood directors. The first five films of the franchise were directed by Michael Bay, the sixth film was directed by Travis Knight, the seventh film was directed by Steven Caple Jr., and the upcoming film in the franchise, Transformers: One is all set to be directed by Josh Cooley. The film primarily revolves around the heroic alien Autobots who after losing their battle for survival on their home planet Cybertron have taken refuge on Earth as vehicles and animals. While regrouping their forces along with a human, their goal is not to let another planet with life suffer at the hands of Decepticons.

The first Transformers film directed by Michael Bay was released on July 7, 2003, starring Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox in lead roles. The first film in the series was a massive hit amongst the viewers which marked the start of the film series. Along with LaBeouf and Fox, the film also starred Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel, Anthony Anderson, Rachael Taylor, John Turturro and Jon Voight, while Peter Cullen and Hugo Weaving voiced Optimus Prime and Megatron, respectively.

What did Megan Fox say about Michael Bay?

Megan Fox’s character Mikaela Banes was one of the loved characters in the films. With the first film’s success, Fox took no time to reprise her role as Banes in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. However, things went haywire when it came to Fox reprising her role as the female lead in the third Transformers film. As per Megan Fox’s representative, it was her decision not to continue her role in the franchise. Although many believe that Fox’s exit from the franchise was due to her comment about the film’s director Michael Bay.

For the unversed, during one of her interviews with Wonderland, Megan Fox had compared Transformers’ director Michael Bay’s attitude on set to that of Hitler. In 2009, when Megan Fox was asked to share her most famous thing and least famous thing about working with director Michael Bay to which she answered by saying, "God, I really wish I could go loose on this one. He’s like Napoleon and he wants to create this insane, infamous madman reputation. He wants to be like Hitler on his sets, and he is."

During her interview with Wonderland, Megan Fox also added, "So he’s a nightmare to work for but when you get him away from set, and he’s not in director mode, I kind of really enjoy his personality because he’s so awkward, so hopelessly awkward. He has no social skills at all. And it’s endearing to watch him. He’s vulnerable and fragile in real life and then on set he’s a tyrant. Shia and I almost die when we make a 'Transformers' movie. He has you do some really insane things that insurance would never let you do."

This comment made by Fox did not settle well with many including the crew members of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The same year, three crew members of the film shared an official statement to Deadline criticizing Fox's attitude and actions on set during the sequel's filming. The members described Fox as the "grump of the set" and also defended Bay by claiming that he "simply wants people to bring their 'A' game."

A year later, it was announced that Megan Fox would not return as Mikaela Banes in the third installment of Transformers.

Did Michael Bay fire Megan Fox?

In 2010, a report by Deadline revealed that Megan Fox would not be returning as Mikaela Banes in the third film of Transformers films series and claimed that it was director Michael Bay’s ‘ultimate decision.” However, in 2011, Bay revealed that it was not his but the films’ producer Steven Spielberg's decision to fire the Hollywood actress.

During Michael Bay’s interview with GQ, the Transformers director opened up about Megan Fox’s exit from the franchise by saying, "She was in a different world, on her BlackBerry. You gotta stay focused. And you know, the Hitler thing. Steven [Spielberg] said, 'Fire her right now.'"

What was Michael Bay’s reaction to Megan Fox’s comment?

Source- Official Instagram page of Michael Bay

In the same interview with GQ in 2011, Michael Bay also opened up about Megan Fox’s comment about him. Bay said that her “Hitler” comment did not affect him at all. He said, "I wasn’t hurt, because I know that’s just Megan. Megan loves to get a response. And she does it in kind of the wrong way. I’m sorry, Megan. I’m sorry I made you work twelve hours. I’m sorry that I’m making you show up on time. Movies are not always warm and fuzzy."