Megan Fox rose to fame after starring in Michael Bay’s monster hit franchise Transformers in 2007. The massive popularity of the movie paved the way for another sequel, which last saw the actress. Her role as Mikaela Banes was cut short when she left the project after the release of Revenge of the Fallen.
The accounts regarding her departure were debated by the different parties involved, but the most popular narrative was that she was fired after making nasty comments about the movie’s director. This resulted in her being replaced in the third movie, Dark of the Moon.
Megan Fox Reflects On Getting Fired From Michael Bay’s Transformers
In an interview with Cosmopolitan UK, Jennifer’s Body star Megan Fox opened up about her departure from the Transformers franchise. After making negative comments about Michael Bay in another outlet, the actress was immediately fired. She said:
“That was absolutely the low point of my career. But without — ‘that thing,’ I wouldn’t have learned as quickly as I did. All I had to do was apologize — and I refused. I was so self-righteous at 23, I couldn’t see [that] it was for the greater good. I really thought I was Joan of Arc.”
During her interaction with British magazine Wonderland, Fox revealed that Bay was “a nightmare to work for” and he “wants to be like Hitler on his sets.” The actress also claimed that she and co-star Shia LaBeouf almost died on the set and Bay would let them “do some really insane things” that insurance cannot cover. Fox stated:
“He wants to be like Hitler on his sets, and he is. So, he’s a nightmare to work for, but when you get him away from set, and he’s not in director mode, I kind of really enjoy his personality because he’s so awkward, so hopelessly awkward. He has no social skills at all.”
Due to these comments, executive producer Steven Spielberg ordered Fox’s exit. The star’s Hitler reference could have also served as a factor since the renowned filmmaker is of Jewish faith. The actress confessed:
“It hurt me and a lot of other people. However, that darkness that descended caused enormous and brisk spiritual growth. Once I realized I [had] brought it on myself, it was an invaluable learning experience, looking back on it.”
Fox was replaced by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley for the role of Carly Spencer. Her absence from the third saga was only covered up with a breakup story, and Sam Witwicky’s new girlfriend is basically the same character with a different name and face.
Megan Fox Revives Her Career After Transformers Fiasco
After Michael Bay and Megan Fox had made amends, the director hired the actress again in the 2014 reboot and the 2016 sequel of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, where he served as an executive producer.
While Fox’s career stalled after getting fired from the Transformers films, she turned it into a learning experience and ultimately revived her career. Her new projects include Expendables 4, Johnny & Clyde, and the voice of Nitara in Mortal Kombat 1.
Transformers films are available to watch on Prime Video.
Sources: Cosmopolitan UK, Wonderland
