Steven Spielberg takes on 'Transformers'

LOS ANGELES, July 26 (UPI) -- Hollywood director Steven Spielberg has chosen 1980s Transformers robot toys for his next live action film, it was reported Monday.

DreamWorks plans to have a film based on the shape-shifting toys, which also was a cartoon series, out by the summer of 2006, Zap2it.com said.

"Steven and everyone at Dreamworks are very excited about the prospect of expanding the world of Transformers. The possibilities for a thrilling action adventure are virtually endless," said a statement from the studio.

Transformers, good and evil fighting robots, could change into trucks and jets.