Paramount has announced the dates of the next Transformers trilogy, with movies number 5, 6, and 7 set to hit theaters in 2017, 2018, and 2019 respectively. That's right, after this year, 2020 will be the next time you won't be able to see a new Transformers movie at the cinema. Unless, of course, that's when number eight is coming out. According to The Wrap, Transformers 5 will be released on June 23rd, 2017; Transformers 6 on June 8th, 2018; and Transformers 7 on June 28th, 2019.

Transformers 4 made more than $1 billion worldwide

The last move in the franchise — Transformers: Age of Extinction — was derided by critics when it was released in 2014, but that didn't stop it racking up more than $1 billion at the global box office. That makes it the 15th highest-grossing film of all time, and the second-highest grossing title in the Transformers franchise. For movie studios, an average rating of 18 percent on Rotten Tomatoes just isn't as important.

The next Transformers trilogy will have a lot to prove though. Although Michael Bay is directing again, and actor Mark Wahlberg is also contracted for at least a few more films in the franchise, Transformers 5 will be the product of a writers' room, rather than an individual or a pair of script-writers. It's hoped that this new approach (nabbed from the TV industry), will keep the franchise fresh and exciting. We'll find out whether it succeeds or not in 2017. And 2018. And 2019.