Transformers 4 Unveils First Official Photo

If Pacific Rim didn’t feature enough giant robot action to fill the hole in your heart left by the absence of a Michael Bay special-effects extravaganza this summer, you’ll be gratified to know that the next entry in Bay’s massively successful Transformers franchise is on the way.

Now, we have the first official picture from Transformers 4, which will attempt to reboot the franchise by focusing around a new group of human characters. Replacing Shia LaBeouf this time around is Mark Wahlberg, who will portray Flynn Vincent, a single father and inventor caught up in all kinds of robot carnage when he makes a startling discovery.

Check out the first photo below:

The caption for the picture, from MichaelBay.com, reads:

Pictured left to right: Jack Reynor; Mark Wahlberg; 2nd Assistant B-Camera Casey “Walrus” Howard; 1st Assistant B-Camera John Kairis with back to camera; B-camera Operator Lukasz Bielan; Director Michael Bay; and Director of Photography Amir Mokri.

The film, set five years after Transformers: Dark of the Moon decimated Chicago, began filming in that same city today. Production is expected to remain there through October 2nd, according to NBC Chicago. One can surmise from that piece of information that the film will examine some of the fallout from the third film while introducing its fresh new cast.

Transformers 4 will also star Nicola Peltz (A&E’s Bates Motel) as Vincent’s teenage daughter, and relative unknown Jack Reynor as her race-car driving boyfriend, if you were concerned that Bay might be toning down the number of destructive car chases for this installment. Kelsey Grammer, Stanley Tucci, Titus Welliver, Victoria Summer, Sophia Myles, T.J. Miller, Bingbing Li and Geng Han will all appear in supporting roles. The only human character confirmed to return from the first three movies is Tyrese Gibson, who’ll be making a cameo appearance as soldier Robert Epps.

On the Autobot side, Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen) and Bumblebee are confirmed to return, and months of rumors have suggested that this film will introduce the fan-favorite Dinobots, who may join forces with the Autobots in their fight against the Decepticons.

Are you excited for Transformers 4, or did three undeniably mediocre films evaporate any love you once had for the concept? Is Mark Wahlberg a good choice to headline the new installment? Let us know in the comments section.