With the fifth installment in the "Transformers" franchise, titled "Transformers: The Last Knight," already scheduled to be premiere this month, Paramount is now busy laying the groundwork for the series' next film. According to the latest reports, Paramount is apparently already in talks with "Pitch Perfect" star Hailee Steinfeld for her to play the leading role in the upcoming spin-off movie, "Bumblebee."

Finalizing the deal

According to a report from Variety, Steinfeld has apparently been approached by the studio to star in its upcoming live-action film.

However, there hasn't yet been any confirmation that the "Ender's Game" star has accepted the studio's proposition. The nature of Steinfeld's character is also still not yet known.

Another big project

Steinfeld has had a lot of success since her appearance as Mattie Ross in "True Grit" back in 2010. The 20-year old actress has continued her rise to becoming one of the best leading actresses in Hollywood. Her latest performance was for the STX movie "The Edge of Seventeen, " for which she earned a Golden Globe Award nomination. Aside from her possible appearance in the upcoming "Bumblebee" movie, Steinfeld is also set to appear in the upcoming musical comedy sequel, "Pitch Perfect 3." Both projects could very well elevate her status even further.

A unique installment

Hasbro's franchise leader, Tom Warner, previously confirmed that the next film in the franchise will not be a sequel to the main entries, but it will instead be a spin-off that won't necessarily be taking place in the same timeline. The film's plot has closely been kept under wraps as the studio and the film's producers continue to keep their mouth shut when it comes to answering questions about the upcoming movie's storyline.

However, several reports have revealed that the movie will likely be taking place in the 1980s, a time when the "Transformers" were not yet known to the rest of the world.

The movie will obviously be centered around Bumblebee, as indicated in the title. Aside from Optimus Prime, Bumblebee is perhaps one of the most beloved characters in the franchise, which is likely why the studio decided to let him have his own movie.

The Autobot is Prime's most trusted lieutenant and he has prominently been featured in all of the past installments. Due to an injury in a previous battle, Bumblebee is unable to speak and is only able to communicate using audio clips from popular media.