Irish actor Jack Reynor has been offered the lead in the fourth instalment of Michael Bay’s ‘Transformers’, IFTN can exclusively reveal.
Reynor, who auditioned for the part three times, was offered the lead by Bay himself after the ‘Armageddon’ filmmaker was impressed by Reynor’s performance in Irish feature ‘What Richard Did’.
Bay initially tested five actors for the part: Reynor, Luke Grimes, (Brothers & Sisters), Landon Liboiron (Terra Nova), Brenton Thwaites (Blue Lagoon: The Awakening) and Hunter Parrish (Weeds).
A source close to IFTN says Bay is keen for Paramount Pictures, which is financing the film, to agree with his casting decision, and an announcement is expected in the coming days.
Reynor will take over the lead role initially played by Shia LaBeouf, who starred in the original three films, which are based on the Marvel comic series. Reynor is expected to play the love interest of Mark Wahlberg’s character’s daughter.
‘Transformers’ will be Reynor’s second major Hollywood role, having just wrapped on ‘The Delivery Man’ opposite Vince Vaughn and Irish actor Simon Delaney.
The Wicklow actor, who is just 20 years old, returns home to Ireland today after a long working stint in the US.
He signed to top talent agency WME in September after his roles in Kirsten Sheridan’s ‘Dollhouse’ and Lenny Abrahamson’s ‘What Richard Did’ gained him international notoriety. He has also just been nominated for Young British & Irish Performer of the Year in the London Film Critics’ Circle, to be announced on January 20.
Bay’s previous three ‘Transformers’ films, which also starred Megan Fox and Josh Duhamel, broke box office records, and were nominated for seven Oscars collectively.