Optimus Prime and the rest of the Autobots may be undergoing a creative transformation.

Action film director Michael Bay has indicated it may be time for him to step away from his cinematic robots. "There's kind of a new chapter, a new direction in movies I want to make. I have a lot of stories to tell. And it's about flexing new muscles," Bay told USA Today in an interview.

The newspaper spoke with Bay for a piece about his busy summer, not only directing "Transformers: Age of Extinction," but producing the film "The Purge: Anarchy" and the newly released reboot movie of the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" franchise. He also produced a new show on television, the naval thriller "The Last Ship" on the TNT cable network. He also produced "Black Sails," the television series about pirates that launched on Starz earlier this year and is currently filming season two.

Though he didn't quite say outright that he definitely won't direct the next "Transformers" film, the article in USA Today states he is thinking about "passing the baton." It also indicates that Bay has wanted to make a documentary on the poaching of elephants for their ivory. He is also producing several upcoming films, "Ouija" and "Project Almanac," as well as another television show.

"Ouija" is a horror film based upon the infamous "board game" which people can use to supposedly contact spirits, and will be released on October 24. "Project Almanac" is a found footage film about teenagers that build a time machine, scheduled to hit movie theaters in January 2015.

According to Box Office Mojo, "Transformers: Age of Extinction" has grossed $243 million in the U.S. since its release on June 27. "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" was released on August 8 has grossed an estimated $65 million in domestic cinemas, making it the top film last weekend.