Deadline is exclusively reporting that Paramount Pictures and Hasbro Studios are looking to reinvent the Transformers universe and have their eyes set on Steven Caple Jr. to direct the next installment in the franchise.

At the start of the year, Paramount decided to revamp the franchise, with two scripts simultaneously being put into development: one by James Vanderbilt and another by Joby Harold. The report states that Joby Harold’s script was chosen and once he put the finishing touches to it at the end of the summer, the studio began their search for a director.

The report states that insiders tell them that negotiations are yet to begin between the studio and Steven Caple Jr. are yet to commence, but he is seen as the top choice amongst the studios executive and producers, and a deal should be sealed in the coming weeks.

The Transformers franchise has been a major hit for the studio overall since it began in 2007, spanning five films from Michael Bay and a spinoff from Travis Knight, with the franchise earning over £4.8bn worldwide.