Transformers star Megan Fox quits franchise

Actress Megan Fox, who made her name as a star of the first two Transformers films, will not appear in the third installment of the franchise, which begins filming this summer - prompting a row over whether she jumped ship or was pushed.

It was initially reported that Fox had been dropped from the cast, but her agent later insisted that it was the 24-year-old's choice to leave, saying: "It was her decision not to return."

Film company Paramount gave no explanation of Fox's departure, although she appeared to burn her bridges with the franchise last year when she gave a series of interviews in which she complained that the films were "not about acting" and compared director Michael Bay to Hitler and Napoleon, and described him as a "nightmare".

However Bay laughed off the claims and said he was looking forward to working with her in the future. When he announced that there would be a third Transformers film Bay wrote on his website: "PS Megan Fox, welcome back. I promise no alien robots will harm you in any way during the production of this motion picture."

With the next Transformers film due to hit screens in a year's time speculation over who will replace Fox in the role of Mikaela Banes is already rife.

Front runner to take over is ubiquitous British actress Gemma Arterton, currently appearing in cinemas in Prince of Persia, Clash of the Titans, The Disappearance of Alice Creed.

Pint-sized Heroes star Hayden Panettiere is also said to be in the frame to take over as the love interest of Shia LaBeouf's character Sam Witwicky in the film.

Hollywood gossip websites also name models Miranda Kerr and Brooklyn Decker as possible replacements, along with Avatar actress Zoe Saldana. ·