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10 Movie Franchises That Michael Bay Could Make Better

Director Michael Bay is now best known for spearheading the Transformers movie franchise and turning it into a four-billion-dollar series. But despite these box office hits, not everybody loves the franchise, and while doing press junkets for his new film, Ambulance, the director revealed that it was actually Steven Spielberg who told Bay to stop making them.

RELATED: 10 Best Movies Like Ambulance

It’s thanks to Spielberg that Bay made much more interesting films like 6 Underground and Ambulance. But Bay still did a great job of creating a giant movie series, and other franchises in dire straits could use his services. He might not be the most beloved director in the world, few filmmakers are as good at working on a huge scale, and these franchises would be much better if Bay was behind the camera.

G.I. Joe
Snake Eyes and Roadblock shake hands in G.I. Joe: Retaliation

The G.I. Joe movie franchise has struggled to get off the ground several times at this point. Despite Rise of the Cobra massively underperforming, Paramount Pictures still greenlit a sequel. But even with Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis being introduced into the series, Retaliation still failed to find the audience Paramount was looking for. And most recently, Snake Eyes failed to even make back half of its budget.

If anybody knows how to turn a movie franchise based on toys into a successful, billion-dollar-grossing series, it’s Bay. One of the big problems of the G.I. Joe movies is how isolated and confined the action is, often relying too heavily on shaky-cam. But Bay isn’t afraid to dream bigger, and he could inject those large-scale action sequences and set pieces into a popcorn hit that the series so desperately needs.

Underworld
Selene looking over the city in Underworld 2003

The Underworld series is a little darker than what typical Bay fare, but fans often forget that the first Bad Boys was actually very dark in tone. And the gothic club that was the setting for a typical Bay shoot-out is exactly the aesthetic that the first Underworld movie had.

On top of that, the Underworld movies got more action-oriented with each consecutive release, and that was also its downfall, so an action-focused director is what the sequels needed more than anything. As Underworld and its sequels exclusively take place at night, it’d be hard to get the shot of helicopters flying in front of the sunset that Bay loves so much. But that’s a small price to pay for a sexy, blood-sucking action movie that would see the director at his best.

Men In Black
M and H riding a bike in Men in Black International

In its current form, Men in Black has very much run its course, and many would argue that there hasn’t been a good movie in the franchise ever since the original in 1997. And the funniest thing in the latest Men in Black: International is a reference to a whole other franchise, as Chris Hemsworth’s character wields a hammer, just like he does as Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

RELATED: 10 Movie Friendships We’re Glad Never Became Romances

The MIB franchise has never taken itself too seriously, and it’s a perfect balance of comedy and action, just like Bay’s best movies. Based on the way International attempted to make the series feel more like a superhero-like blockbuster, Bay could bring it back to its roots and make the best MIB movie since the first one.

Predator
Predator stabs a man in Predators

Though Predator 2 is an overlooked horror sequel that deserves a second chance, the franchise has gone from one failure to another. Whether it’s Predator vs. Alien or the most recently released The Predator, fans of the series have been disappointed too many times.

Like Underworld, a Predator movie might not immediately jump out as an entry that would fit in with the rest of Bay’s filmography. But the original movie in the series is so action-packed, helicopter-filled, and soaked in bravado and machoism, and nobody does those things better than Bay. However, there’s another Predator movie on the horizon, Prey, which seems like it could be a fresh start for the series. The film is a prequel, set in the 1700s, and directed by Dan Trachtenberg, who helmed 10 Cloverfield Lane.

Pirates Of The Caribbean
Elizabeth rallies a group of pirates in Pirates-of-the-Caribbean 3

Pirates of the Caribbean has not one but two new movies in development, both of which are reboots and will star Margot Robbie. And though it’s unlikely that either one of them will be directed by Bay, there’s nothing more exciting than imagining a pirate-themed action movie from the director.

The Pirates series often got bogged down in its convoluted lore, and while most of the movies in the franchise had great premises, Bay could strip all of the unnecessary exposition and messy subplots. The movie could simply be two hours of Jack Sparrow running around and Bay could make it entertaining. And the filmmaker would have a field day creating huge explosions with the cannons on the Navy ships.

The Terminator
Sarah fires a rocket launcher in Terminator: Dark Fate

Though some Terminator fans would be critical of Bay taking over the series, as he’s known for dumbing down plots, the sci-fi series has been on a downward spiral since Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. The most recent movie, Dark Fate, might be the best Terminator movie since Terminator 2: Judgement Day, but that doesn’t mean much.

Bay is clearly a big fan of Judgement Day, as the second movie in the franchise is famous for its epic chase scene on the L.A. River, and exactly that can be found in the director’s new movie, Ambulance. The first two Terminator movies are incredible sci-fi action blockbusters, and that’s something Bay knows how to direct better than most.

James Bond
Bond rides a motorcycle in Quantum of Solace

There’s a theory that The Rock is a James Bond movie, as Sean Connery stars in the former as John Mason. John Mason is a fake identity, the character is a former British Intelligence agent, and he never reveals his true identity, so it could be that Bay has already secretly directed a Bond flick.

RELATED: Top 10 Bond Women Who Had The Best Chemistry With 007

And it just goes to show that the director could have made the spy franchise better in the 1990s, as The Rock is better than any 007 movie from that era. Now Daniel Craig’s Bond era has come to an end, Bay could take the franchise back into a more lighthearted and fun direction after the dour and serious last few films.

The Mummy
Brendan Fraser with a torch navigating a cave in a scene from The Mummy.

While 1999’s The Mummy is a fun, campy adventure movie, the kind they don’t make anymore, and The Mummy Returns is something of a guilty pleasure, the series has had far from the best trajectory. The Scorpion King and the long-forgotten threequel are the worst directions the franchise could have gone in, and the Tom Cruise-starring reboot was the final nail in the coffin.

Universal abandoned the Dark Universe before it even got off the ground, as the 2017 reboot was planned to be the start of a cinematic universe that included Frankenstein’s Monster, the Wolfman, and others. If the reboot was in the hands of Michael Bay, it would have been a supernatural action epic, and it would have had three more movies in the franchise by now.

Ghost Rider
Ghost Rider looks in the distance on his motorcycle in Ghost Rider.

It comes as a huge surprise that Nicolas Cage and Bay have only collaborated once, as the theatrical and over-the-top actor and the bombastic director seem made for each other. Cage even went on to star in movies like Con Air, which were clearly influenced by Bay. And in 2007, Cage starred in Ghost Rider, which is about a biker who turns into a flaming skeleton.

Fans of the comic book source material thought the film and its sequel left a lot to be desired, to say the least. But Cage naturally acting uncaged is the one great takeaway from the series, and Bay and the actor could reunite for a soft reboot. Though the likelihood of that happening is low, fans might get to see Cage as Johnny Blaze one more time. There’s a rumor that Cage will cameo in Doctor Strange 2.

Fast And Furious
Jakob yells at Dom in F9

There are already strands of Bay’s DNA in the Fast and Furious franchise, whether it’s the machoism of the first movie, the scantily-clad Miami residents of 2 Fast 2 Furious, or the epic set pieces of Fast and Furious 6. And though Justin Lin turned the series into the high-octane blockbuster franchise it is today, his work on F9 led to the series’ worst reviews yet.

Even die-hard fans of the franchise thought that Han coming back to life and Rome going into space was ridiculous. Fast & Furious hit its peak in the middle of its lifespan, when the movies were full of train heists and epic chase sequences, and Bay could bring the series back to that era and make the best Fast movie ever.

NEXT: Fast And Furious – Every Character In F9 Ranked By How Heroic They Are

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Fast & Furious 11 Needs Hobbs Vs. Dom (To End The Rock & Vin Diesel’s Feud)

Summary

Fast and Furious 11 needs to feature an epic fight between The Rock and Vin Diesel to resolve the real-life feud and bring closure to their characters’ relationship. The clash between Dom and Hobbs in Fast Five was a game-changer, and revisiting that epic confrontation in Fast 11 would elevate the action and add nostalgia. A showdown between Dom and Hobbs in Fast 11 could serve as a decisive moment of reconciliation, reaffirming the underlying themes of family and unity in the franchise.

Now that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has returned to the Fast Saga, Fast and Furious 11 needs to include an epic fight between Johnson and Vin Diesel. In the high-octane world of the Fast and Furious franchise, the thrill of fast cars and heart-stopping action has always been amplified by the magnetic on-screen chemistry between its stars. However, a real-life feud between The Rock and Vin Diesel has been brewing since 2016. Director Louis Leterrier achieved the impossible by bringing The Rock back into the fold. Now, he must find a way to reunite Luke Hobbs and Dominic Toretto on-screen.

Ever since Fate of the Furious, the void left by The Rock’s absence has grown more conspicuous. The actor’s feud with Vin Diesel has cast a shadow over the franchise, making it increasingly difficult for the writers and directors to craft a cohesive narrative. As Fast Saga fans await the next installment, all eyes are on Leterrier to weave a compelling story that not only showcases jaw-dropping action but also offers a chance for Hobbs and Dom to partake in an epic showdown.

Hobbs & Dom Fighting In Fast & Furious 11 Would Bring Their Arc Full Circle
Vin Diesel's Dom confronts Dwayne Johnson's Hobbs in Fast Five

Fast X and Fast and Furious 11 act as sequels to Fast Five in many ways, so it makes perfect sense for the upcoming installment to build on the fight scene between Dom and Hobbs from Fast Five. The clash between the two powerhouse characters left an indelible mark on fans. Revisiting that epic confrontation could elevate the adrenaline-fueled action and add a layer of nostalgia to Fast and Furious 11. Now that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has had a change of heart and returned to the Fast Saga, the anticipation for a rematch between his and Vin Diesel’s characters has reached a fever pitch.

Dom and Hobbs’ showdown in Fast Five was a game-changer for the franchise, propelling it to new heights with its intensity and raw energy. Given the unresolved tension between the two stars in real life, a meticulously crafted fight scene in Fast 11 has the potential to invigorate the climax of the series and provide a cathartic experience for the actors and fans alike. As Fast 11 may be the final chapter in the Fast and Furious universe, all eyes are on this anticipated clash. Hopefully, a brotherly fight will be the defining moment that brings harmony back to the Fast Saga family.

The Rock & Vin Diesel Can Put Their Feud To Rest On Screen
Hobbs holding on to Dom in Fast and Furious 5

Vin Diesel and The Rock’s personal history adds a layer of complexity to any potential fight between their characters in Fast and Furious 11. Given their real-life feud, it’s unlikely either actor would be portrayed as the clear winner or loser. Moreover, from a storytelling perspective, it would be counterproductive to have Dom excessively harm or kill Hobbs or vice versa. However, as the series approaches its potential end, a showdown between Dom and Hobbs could serve as a decisive moment of reconciliation. After all, throughout the Fast and Furious films, audiences have witnessed a recurring pattern of men engaging in physical conflicts before eventually forming unbreakable bonds.

For instance, Fast and Furious sees Dom and Brian’s tumultuous relationship evolve into a deep brotherly connection after a series of knock-down, drag-out fights. This same sort of understanding between Dom and Hobbs would reaffirm the underlying themes of reconciliation and family that have contributed to the franchise’s enduring popularity. By embracing the notion that they are, in a sense, brothers, Dom and Hobbs could mend their on-screen relationship and deliver a broader message of unity. This would ultimately give fans a satisfying conclusion to their relationship in Fast and Furious 11.

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Vin Diesel Posts Paul Walker Tribute On 10th Anniversary Of His Death

Summary

Vin Diesel shares a touching tribute to Paul Walker 10 years after the actor’s tragic death on November 30, 2013. Diesel expresses that “more smiles manage to break through the tears” as years pass because he knows his bond with Walker will be stronger than ever when they eventually reunite. Walker’s character, Brian O’Connor, remains alive in the world of Fast and Furious, and Diesel has previously teased that the franchise won’t end without a proper farewell to Brian and Walker.

Fast and Furious star Vin Diesel takes to social media to share a touching tribute to Paul Walker, 10 years after the actor’s death. First released in 2001, the debut installment in the long-running Fast and Furious franchise introduces Diesel as Dominic Toretto and Walker as Brian O’Connor. Both characters would return for a number of sequels, but Walker tragically passed away on November 30, 2013, during the production of Furious 7.

Now, on the 10th anniversary of Walker’s passing, Diesel has shared a touching tribute post on Instagram to honor his late Fast and Furious costar. Check out the actor’s emotional post below:

Accompanying an image of Walker with one of his daughters, Diesel reminisces about an important lesson learned from the late actor and how his legacy still lives on today. Diesel’s full caption is included below:

I was listening to a song this morning…‘That Lucky Old Sun’… thought of you, racing around Heaven all day. Hahaha…
The family of the Mourning, feels like it has grown since a decade ago… feel’s like that experience of losing someone is far too common today. Leaving more and more of us in search for meaning, trying to make sense of this complex existence…
Oh, I have finally understood what you use to do with the phone, “phone Fasting”… you had the insight to turn off your phone for long stretches of time. I started this year to do just that. You used to say, Vin and I can go years without talking, and our brotherhood will always be stronger than we left it, the ones who truly love you will always be there.
Amen to that.
This is one of my favorite images ever taken… You knew how proud I was when my daughter, the Alpha Angel, your niece would play the piano… well last night she was playing Moonlight Sonata… it took me back to the night before she was born. Me and you were working late… you were telling me that the best moment in life would be witnessing my child being born. That priceless smile you had when I told you the next day that I had cut the umbilical cord…
The next song she started playing on the piano is by an artist you would have loved, named Billie Eilish, ‘What was I made for’… when she started to play, the other angels all came and joined her at the piano and they started singing… wow…emotions… angels, I know you were listening.
After ten years… I know these days of beautiful remembrance will be filled with tears. But as time rolls on, with each year that passes… more smiles manage to break through the tears. Cause I know, when I see you again… our brotherhood will be stronger than we left it.
Miss you.

Will Brian Be Seen Again In Fast & Furious?
Furious 7 Reveals How Paul Walker’s Character Can Return
CGI Paul Walker in Furious 7.

Walker’s death in November 2013 came with a great deal of sadness, but it also created problems for the Furious 7 production, which was about halfway done. It was ultimately decided that Walker’s remaining scenes would be completed with a digital recreation of the actor, with his two brothers, Cody and Caleb Walker, serving as body doubles. Although Walker may have passed away, Brian remains alive and well within the world of the films, though he has not been seen in the flesh since Furious 7’s emotional ending.

The closet audiences have come to seeing Brian again (outside of the flashbacks featured in Fast X) is at the end of F9: The Fast Saga, when the character’s iconic Nissan Skyline pulls up at Dom’s house. This summer’s Fast X supposedly sets up the conclusion of the franchise in an 11th and potentially 12th installment (in addition to the announced Dwayne Johnson Luke Hobbs spinoff movie), and it’s very likely that the final movie will see Brian return in some capacity.

Diesel has also essentially teased as much, telling Total Film (via GamesRadar) earlier this year: “I couldn’t imagine this saga ending without truly saying goodbye to Brian O’Conner.” It’s unclear if this will mean a substantial digital recreation of the actor for extended portions of the film or a quick cameo at the very end, but it seems like audiences haven’t seen the last of Brian just yet. Even in death, Walker remains a key pillar of Fast and Furious, and it’s fitting that the final film will feature another heartfelt goodbye to further honor the late actor.

Source: Vin Diesel/ Instagram

Fast and Furious 11 temp poster

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All 4 Fast & Furious Heroes Who Stayed Dead (& Which One Is Most Likely To Return)

Summary

Fast & Furious franchise is known for bringing back dead characters, but there are a few heroes who have remained dead. Jack Toretto, Dom’s father, died in a racing accident and his death should not be undone in the franchise. Jesse, a member of Dom’s crew, was killed in a drive-by shooting, while Vince was killed during an ambush. Elena, Dom’s love interest, was killed by the villain Cipher.

The Fast & Furious franchise has brought many characters back from the dead, but a handful of its heroes have remained killed off after their demise. The Fast Saga has taken its characters on a wild ride from street racing to the most outlandish adventures possible. The running theme of the Fast & Furious franchise has long been family, with Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) building quite a large family indeed over the course of the Fast Saga’s run.

On top of its embrace of ridiculous, superhuman feats as a staple of its action scenes, the Fast & Furious movies are also well known for bringing back seemingly dead characters for more missions. The returns of Sung Kang’s Han in F9 and Gal Gadot’s Gisele Yashar in Fast X would be especially noteworthy in emphasizing the notion that no Fast & Furious death is irreversible. However, that is not entirely true, as there have been a few Fast & Furious heroes who have died and never come back.

RELATED: 10 Fast & Furious Characters Who Must Return In New Hobbs Spinoff

4 Jack Toretto
An image of Jack Toretto driving a car in F9

Jack Toretto (J.D. Pardo) is the father of Dom, Mia (Jordana Brewster), and Jakob Toretto (John Cena), and is first seen in a flashback to 1989 in F9. Jack is a highly skilled race car driver who instilled that talent in his children, with Dom and Jakob being part of his racing pit crew. However, Jack’s racing career took a tragic turn when his car malfunctioned and crashed, killing him. Dom later beat his father’s racing opponent, Kenny Linder (Jim Parrack), almost to death with a wrench, believing him responsible for his father’s demise.

This tragedy also led to Dom and Jakob falling out, with Dom later coming to believe that Jakob set up their father’s death since he was the last one to work on his car. However, Jack was intentionally attempting to throw the race in order to get his family out of debt. He had asked Jakob to help tinker with his car so that it would fail, with Jack’s death being unintentional on both their parts. While his return has been theorized by fans, of all the characters killed off in Fast & Furious, Jack Toretto’s death should never be retconned.

3 Jesse
Jesse in The Fast and the Furious pic

One of the early members of Dom’s family in the original The Fast and the Furious, Jesse (Chad Lindberg) was the brains of Dom’s crew in his enterprise of stealing DVD players. Jesse went on the run after losing a street race to Dom’s rival, Johnny Tran (Rick Yune), having bet his MK3 Volkswagen Jetta in the race. Jesse was later killed outside of Dom’s house when Johnny Tran and his associate Lance Nguyen (Reggie Lee) arrived and performed a drive-by shooting. Dom and Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) then chased down Johnny Tran and Lance Nguyen to avenge their fallen friend.

2 Vince
fast and furious 5 vince

Vince (Matt Schulze) was another member of Dom’s crew in The Fast & the Furious, and he was badly injured during a truck heist in that first movie. After his recovery, Vince fled to Rio de Janeiro where he later reunited with Dom and family in Fast Five. Despite Vince having settled down with a wife and a baby son, he agreed to join Dom’s daring heist of Rio’s most feared crime boss Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida). Unfortunately, Vince was killed during an ambush by Reyes’s team. After successfully pulling off the heist, Dom left Vince’s intended share of the money with his wife and son.

1 Elena
Elena Neves walks with her gun drawn by a car

Elena Neves (Elsa Pataky) worked alongside Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) in apprehending Dom and his crew in Fast Five. She and Dom gradually developed feelings for each other, however, and departed for Spain with Dom at the end of the movie. After Dom learned that his wife Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez) was still alive despite her apparent death in Fast & Furious, Dom and Elena had an amicable split, only for it to later be revealed that Elena is the mother of Dom’s son in The Fate of the Furious.

RELATED: How (& Where) To Watch The Fast & Furious Movies In Order By Release Date & Chronologically

After Elena was killed by the villainous Cipher (Charlize Theron), Dom and Letty raised the boy together, with the two naming him Brian after Brian O’Conner. Meanwhile, Dom later met Elena’s sister Isabel (Daniela Melchior), who joined Dom’s crew in Fast X. While Elena remains deceased as of Fast X, the arrival of her sister Isabel and Fast & Furious’s habit of not truly killing off characters makes her the most likely thought-to-be-dead hero to potentially return as the franchise speeds towards its finale.

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