It started as a rumor that Michael Bay was in talks with Mark Wahlberg to star in his return to giant alien robots, Transformers 4. Bay denied these rumors, saying that he and Wahlberg, who stars in the director’s next movie, Pain and Gain, were in talks for another project.

But then the ‘net—as it tends to do on occasion—began buzzing over the rumored casting, and it apparently led Bay to think of a part in the movie for the actor. Which brings us to now, where word that Wahlberg has indeed been cast in Transformers 4 has been made official by Bay himself. A new logo for the movie (seen above) was also released.

This internet…it’s a wacky sorta place.

The news was made official on Michael Bay’s official blog, with a full press release.

Of the announcement, Bay said:

Speaking of Pain and Gain, that movie will hit theaters on April 26, 2013 and also stars Dwayne Johnson (who was the one I predicted would end up in the new Transformers…and still might) and Anthony Mackie.

As for Transformers 4, that movie arrives on June 27, 2014.

What do you think of Mark Wahlberg in a lead role for Transformers 4?

[Source: via Collider]