Michael Bay will never be one of my favourite directors and I've never been particularly enthralled when a new Bay project is announced, but I do feel a slight sense of relief that Michael Bay won't immediately be jumping back into the TRANSFORMERS universe. The director's next film will be the political drama 13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI, a true story which recounts the attack on the U.S. Special Mission Compound and a nearby CIA Annex in Benghazi on the 11th anniversary of Sept. 11.
In addition to expanding the title from 13 HOURS, Paramount has announced a release date of January 15, 2016; worked well enough for AMERICAN SNIPER, perhaps they're hoping 13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI will take off in a similar fashion. Chuck Hogan penned the script for the film based upon "13 Hours: The Inside Account Of What Really Happened In Benghazi" by Mitchell Zuckoff. 13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI stars James Badge Dale, John Krasinski, Toby Stephens, Pablo Schreiber, Max Martini, David Denman, Dominic Fumusa, and Freddie Stroma.
Bay is working with a smaller budget than he's become accustomed to; 13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI said to be in the $30 to $40 million range, but I imagine that we'll get more of that Michael Bay style action which has already made Paramount billions with the TRANSFORMERS franchise.