Transformers 4 director announces new star, Jack Reynor

Michael Bay says "Transformers 4 is not a reboot" and will be "very different"

Unknown Irish actor Jack Reynor has won a lead role in the fourth Transformers movie, director and producer Michael Bay has confirmed.

Bay spotted the 20-year-old starring in "a great little Irish movie", What Richard Did, which is out this Friday.

"This kid is the real deal," said the producer, in a post on his website.

"He is an Irish kid that came to America with 30 bucks in his pocket. Pretty ballsy. Seriously who does that?"

Reynor will star opposite Mark Wahlberg in Transformers 4.

Based on the robot toy franchise, it is expected to be released in June 2014. Bay has denied rumours that it would be a remake of the earlier films.

He wrote: "Transformers 4, is not a reboot. That word has been floating around on the net.

"This movie takes place exactly four years after the war in Chicago," from Transformers 3, he added.

"The story makes a very natural transition, and reason as to why we have a whole new cast.

"This Transformers will feel very different than the last three. We are embarking on a new trilogy."

Prior to Transformers 4, Jack Reynor has been filming The Delivery Man, a movie about a sperm donor that also stars Vince Vaughn.

He will also feature in a new drama called Cold, with Merlin actor Eoin Macken.