He said it was his last. He was going to walk away, try something different and dig into something deeper. But he’s back, and he’s doing both.

Director Michael Bay confirmed he will be working on the set of “Transformers 4” — the latest film in the billion-dollar franchise. But he didn’t decide to do so without multi-tasking along the way. Currently, he’s wrapped up in “Pain and Gain” — a “low-budget film” (only $25 million) starring Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as two Miami bodybuilders who get involved in a kidnapping scheme.

“It’s a fun movie,” Bay told the Huffington Post, in regards to “Pain and Gain.” “The actors did such a great job on it, too.”

What to Expect

But despite any quirky, original, funny or twisted appeal the “Pain and Gain” movie promises, Transformers fans are waiting instead to hear what the fourth installment of the $2.7 billion franchise will be about.

The movie — slated for June 2014 — will start off in Chicago where it left off, filmmaker Bay told the Huffington Post. “We’re basically taking from the history of where it was — or where we left it,” he said. “And we’re going to carry it on from there.”

Peter Cullen will be back as the voice of Optimus Prime, and the story will continue without being a reboot or acting as if the plots of the other three movies didn’t happen.

All Chips are on the Table

Helping with the movie will be the winner of the Doritos annual “Crash the Super Bowl” contest. In years past, viewers have submitted their own Doritos commercials to the company and waited as fans voted on their favorites to appear during the big game. This year, the Frito Lay snack chip company upped the prize to include a chance to work with Michael Bay on “Transformers 4.”

Aspiring filmmakers not only will get their foot in the door with a video viewed by millions, but get to learn at the feet of a big-name movie director who knows a thing or two about crashes. Bay told the Huffington Post this is a great way for students and future filmmakers to break into the business. The opportunity to work on set and gain real-life experience with a seasoned director is something that can open a lot of doors, especially when working with accomplished action-film director Michael Bay.

And the winner will be twice as lucky to work on the set of such branded franchise, one Bay thought he was done with.

Soul Searching

Bay originally called “Dark of the Moon” his final chapter, the last “Transformers” movie he would direct. But after the 3-D Transformers ride opened at Universal Studios in May — and became widely popular — he struggled to stay firm on that decision.

“The bottom line is, when you go to Universal Studios and you have the two-and-a-half hour line, it’s hard to give it up,” Bay told the Huffington Post. “You birth a baby and you want to carry it on.”

After doing some self-described soul searching — and learning the studio wanted to restart the franchise — Bay recommitted to the Transformers team. He told the Huffington Post the plan is to keep the history in place but change and broaden the idea so it can be carried on and survive.

Will this be the last “Transformers” gig for Bay? He says “probably,” but we’ll see.

Guest article by: Joshua Cruz