The Transformers franchise has been nothing if not divisive. While some fans have remained resolutely loyal, the majority of critics, and plenty of average moviegoers, have criticized its emphasis on noisy CGI style over storytelling substance. Still, the series has raked in a combined total of over $4 billion, proving there's an audience for this series. Or there was, anyway. In 2018, Paramount tabled plans to make a Transformers 7 for the foreseeable future. Why would the studio stop the machine that transformed a toy line into a multi-billion-dollar global cinematic affair? The answers might surprise you…