Michael Bay isn't on the "Transformers" ride that Universal Studios announced last week. Although the press release quotes Universal Parks & Resorts chairman/CEO Tom Williams as "thrilled to be collaborating" with Bay, Peter Sciretta points us toward a statement on the director's website that claims he has yet to approve the concept. "I don’t support it - I’m not involved and not sure the story of the ride works, and I know Optimus is not going to just show up to be directed by some new people that have never worked with him. I hate when people bullshit a quote from me that I never said. I’ll keep you informed. Maybe the guy making the rides at Universal will direct Transformers 3????" Is that a veiled threat to make "Transformer 3" negotiations difficult? It does suck when other people presume to speak for you. However, I'll wager that Optimus will do as he's told since, um, he's not real. [michaelbay.com, via slashfilm]

Geraldine Fabrikant writes: "On Monday, National Amusements, the privately held company that is run by Ms. Redstone, was forced to sell $233 million worth of stock in Viacom and CBS. On Tuesday, the company issued a statement saying that the sale of shares was prompted by market conditions and not by the operation and expansion of the company’s theater business. An article in The Wall Street Journal on Monday said that National Amusements had sold the shares to back a $1.6 billion loan that was used in part to help expand its movie theater chain. While the statement was not attributed to Mr. Redstone, Ms. Redstone apparently felt it was necessary to issue a statement saying that was not the case. Ms. Redstone declined to comment." [New York Times, via Huffington Post]