Vallery Jean/FilmMagicUPDATE: A rep for Michael Bay's office tells E! News that the director is feeling fine. "Contrary to several erroneous news reports made today, Bay did not get hurt in a fight on set. The production company did have a bizarre encounter with a man (allegedly under the influence of a narcotic substance) who was wielding an air conditioning unit as a weapon. The man, who had earlier accosted several other crew members, rushed onto the set in Quarry Bay and swung the air conditioning unit directly at Bay's head. The director ducked and wrested the air conditioner from his attacker, preventing what could have been a serious accident."
The statement continues, "The company's security team quickly stepped in and subdued the assault. The police, who also scuffled with the assailant and two of his companions, ultimately arrested the three men. No one on the cast or crew was injured and the production immediately resumed filming without further incident."
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Making a movie is never easy, and the process became even more difficult when Michael Bay was assaulted on the set of Transformers 4: The Age of Extinction in Hong Kong on Thursday, Oct. 17. The filmmaker, 48, was approached by two brothers who demanded he fork over HK$100,000 ($12,900).
The siblings reportedly felt they should be compensated for allowing Bay and his crew to film in the city's Quarry Bay district. The brothers attacked Bay, who sustained injuries to the right side of his face. The Pain & Gain director declined medical attention.
The older brother was arrested on suspicion of assault, while the younger brother was arrested on suspicion of assault and blackmail. Police have now handed the case over to specialist anti-triad units reserved for tackling Hong Kong's notorious criminal gangs.
Transformers 4: The Age of Extinction—starring Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz and Jack Reynor—hits theaters in June 2014.
(Originally published Oct. 17, 2013, at 7:53 a.m. PT)