Michael Bay is stepping into the shoes of master filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock, taking on co-producer duties for a remake of Hitch's classic horror ' The Birds'.
The film, originally made in 1963 and loosely based on a Daphne Du Maurier tale, charts how a pretty seaside town is laid asunder by a ruthless flock of crows and ravens. Tippi Hedren starred in the original as Melanie, with this role tipped for Naomi Watts in the remake, according to Variety Magazine.
Tippi Hedren starred in the original of 'The Birds' in 1963
Bay is known primarily for steering big-budget, high-octane thrills and spills to blockbuster success, most recently with the 'Transformers' franchise, now in its fifth instalment, as well 'Pearl Harbour', 'Armageddon' and Mark Wahlberg film 'Pain and Gain'.
And he infamously failed to improve recently when his autocue failed on stage at a technology conference. Watch his short-lived attempt to remain on message here.
But he has one thing in common with Alfred Hitchcock - a not always smooth relationship with his leading lady, namely 'Transformers' star Megan Fox, who famously compared her director with 'Hitler' in this interview with Wonderland magazine.
The obsessive and highly dysfunctional, uber-controlling relationship between Hitchcock and 'The Birds' leading lady was explored on the big screen last year in 'The Girl' starring Sienna Miller as Tippi, and Toby Jones as Hitchcock.
Tippi Hedren was pleased with the telling of this story, and explained then that, although her director had been controlling and sometimes awful to her, he had also taught her a lot about filmmaking and she had benefited from the experience. Her daughter Melanie Griffith is named after her character.
However, the Guardian reports that she was less impressed by news of the planned remake...
"Why would you do that? Why?" she asked.