Jack Reynor Joins 'Transformers 4,' Which Begins New 'Transformers' Trilogy

As rumored for the past few months, Michael Bay has officially announced that newcomer Jack Reynor has been cast opposite Mark Wahlberg in Transformers 4. Reynor is an Irish actor who caught Bay's eye in the small film called What Richard Did. The director calls him "the real deal."

In Bay's annoucnement, he's also very specific in saying Transformers 4 is not a reboot. In fact, it takes place four years after the last film and has a specific reason for the new cast. He also says that "we are embarking on a new trilogy." Read his full statement after the jump.

Here's Bay's full statement on the casting, which has the details of the film:

I just hired a great new actor for Transformers 4 to star against Mark Wahlberg. Jack Reynor, he is an Irish kid that came to America with 30 bucks in his pocket. Pretty ballsy. Seriously who does that? Anyway I spotted him in a great little Irish movie WHAT RICHARD DID. This kid is the real deal.

Transformers 4, is not a reboot. That word has been floating around on the net. This movie takes place exactly 4 years after the war in Chicago. The story makes a very natural transition, and reason as to why we have a whole new cast. This Transformers will feel very different then the last three. We are embarking on a new trilogy.

Most of this – the casting, the timeline, the trilogy – has come out already in previous Bay interviews but hearing him set the record straight in such plain English is exciting, especially the "trilogy" thing. Do you think Bay will come back for all of them?

As for Reynor, I guess until we see Transformers 4, we'll just have to wait and see what the kid can do. But it's pretty likely we'll soon get the reveal of his female counterpart.

Here's the trailer for What Richard Did, the film with Reynor that caught Bay's attention.

Transformers 4 is scheduled to open June 27, 2014.