It might sound like the beginning of one of Michael Bay’s films, in which a pair of nondescript criminals convey the dilapidated nature of said futuristic dystopian city by way of a failed – yet very serious – crime. But, unfortunately, this was real, and Bay was attacked.

Michael BayMichael Bay was attacked filming in Hong Kong

The Transformers director was injured on the right side of his face when two men attacked him and his film crew, demanding money. They were arrested suspicion of blackmail and assault. Bay didn’t seek treatment, though, suggesting the injury wasn’t too serious. He was soon filming his latest robo-epic on the busy Hong Kong Island area.

According to Reuters, the men were brothers aged 27 and 28. The younger brother demanded payment of HK$100,000 ($12,900), a police spokeswoman said. Also arrested at the scene was a third man surnamed Chan. All three are in custody and police are investigating.

Bay is filming for the fourth Transformers film, called Age of Extinction. There was a film back in 1986, but that was nothing to do with the Armageddon director. His three films in the robot franchise have made over $1b from worldwide box offices. Writing on his website earlier this year, the director confirmed that "the story makes a very natural transition, and reason as to why we have a whole new cast. This Transformers will feel very different then the last three. We are embarking on a new trilogy."

Jack Reynor revealed the new movie would take a ''definite step away'' from the previous three films. He teased: ''There's a whole new direction to take it in, and a lot more to explore in that universe, and I think we're going to make a definitive step away from the previous movies, and this is going to be a lot of fun and I'm incredibly excited.'' (The Hollywood Reporter)

Tranformers 4 posterThe Transformers 4 poster