'Transformers 5' To Bring Hundreds Of Jobs, $80M To Metro Detroit

DETROIT (WWJ) - Jobs and money will come with it when big time movie production returns to the Detroit area this summer.

Janell Leonard, commissioner of Michigan's Film and Digital Media office, says Paramount Pictures will shoot parts of "Transformers 5" (using the working title of "E75") in metro Detroit, bring quite a bit of cash into the region.

"Paramount estimates to spend approximately $80 million throughout the production, and that's money that's going into the community, which is a huge private investment, a boost for the entire area," Leonard said. "And, of course, you have a ton of other economic activity that happens as a result of the production coming in. It's huge for the areas they'll be in down in the southeast Michigan area."

It means employment opportunities, too, she said. Hundreds of crew members and other film workers will be needed.

Plus, some locals might get their chance to do a little acting on the big screen. Leonard said the production is expected to require about 700 extras who could get some face time on film.

Leonard said although new state-sponsored incentives for production companies are shuttered, existing contracts — like the one with Paramount — can and have been amended, allowing more time for Michigan in the big screen spotlight.

"That's one of the biggest things about the film industry, is that is showcases Michigan," she said. "And especially for Transformers to have done their productions here in the past, it's a huge testament to both the locations that we have and also the crew — that they find this a quality state to film in, and we look forward to hosting them again this year."

"Transformers 5" is scheduled to be released in theaters on June 23, 2017. Two additional sequels will be filmed, with tentative release dates of June 8, 2018 and June 28, 2019 respectively.

The previous film, "Transformers: Age of Extinction," was shot in several locations around Southeast Michigan in 2013.

[For more information about jobs associated with the film, click here].