Tyrese Gibson in 'Transformers 5': Why they're making two more films, too
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Molly Driscoll Staff writer
Actor and singer Tyrese Gibson will reportedly be appearing in the newest 鈥淭ransformers鈥� film, 鈥淭ransformers: The Last Knight,鈥� which is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2017.听
Mr. Gibson posted on his about the role, mentioning the character Robert Epps, whom Gibson portrayed in other 鈥淭ransformers鈥� films.听
"The Last Knight" marks the fifth installment in a highly lucrative series that has consistently defied critics' near-universal听panning, suggesting that a segment of moviegoers are willing to suspend their internal critics in favor of enjoying fun, nostagia-filled, action flicks.听
Despite quite negative critical reception, the "Transformer" films continue to be some of the听highest-grossing movies of their respective years. The series hit听a high with the 2009 installment, 鈥淭ransformers: Revenge of the Fallen,鈥� that film has grossed听the most domestically of any in the series with a domestic gross of more than $402 million. Even the lowest grossing installment, 鈥淭ransformers: Age of Extinction,鈥� which received particularly poor reviews, still did incredibly well financially and was the seventh-highest-grossing movie of the year.
Many moviegoers of an age to have played with the Transformers toys knew the characters already and four movies being released means that even more people know them now. 鈥淭he brand recognition of the [鈥楾ransformers鈥橾 franchise is pretty staggering,鈥澨�. And audiences know what to expect four movies in, too, though the franchise has also mixed it up with new actors. Variety writer Brent Lang predicted the 2014听movie would have many 鈥渆ar-shattering explosions 鈥� the addition of [Mark] Wahlberg and 鈥� Nicola Peltz and Jack Reynor should reinvigorate the franchise.鈥�
And the franchise's success isn't limited to the United States, either.听The most recent installment movie,听in particular, drew attention for its great performance in China, grossing about the same in that country as it did in North America.
鈥淓ven if the North American opening for 鈥楢ge of Extinction鈥� ultimately dips below the magic $100 million mark, this robot extravaganza from Michael Bay will still have achieved something momentous,鈥澨齱rote of the China gross.
Gibson will likely bring the latest film his own fans, who remember him from another financially successful but critically panned series, "Fast and the Furious."
The 鈥淭ransformers鈥� franchise shows no sign of slowing down, with studio Paramount having announced earlier this year that it would be releasing new movies in the series through 2019.听
