Shia LaBeouf: This is my last "Transformers"

MOSCOW (AP) — Shia LaBeouf's days of battling the Decepticons look to be over, with the Transformers star saying he has nothing more to offer after three films playing kid-next-door Sam Witwicky.

The 26-year-old American actor said he was through with the action-packed franchise.

"I'm done," he told The Associated Press at the recent opening of "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" at the Moscow International Film Festival. " I'm sure they will make more of them. It's still a very hot franchise."

He added "I love making them (the movies). I love the crew. I love Michael (Bay). I love the cast. I love Sam ... but I don't have anything new to contribute and I don't think there's anywhere to take Sam really."

LeBeouf's nerdy character helped one alien race of robots, the Transformers, overpower another race, the evil Decepticons, with Earth as the battleground.

Directed by Michael Bay, "Transformers 3" also stars Patrick Dempsey, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich and Victoria's Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whitely. Paramount Pictures said the movie earned $37.3 million Wednesday in the U.S. on its first day — a 40 percent drop from its predecessor, "Revenge of the Fallen."

LaBeouf explained Witwicky's role in the latest movie.

"Nobody really cares about Sam anymore. He has no purpose. He saved the world twice and has sort of been thrown to the side. This is a dude who used to validate himself on his involvement with these robots, (but) these robots no longer need him," he said in the AP interview. "This is like the most broken Sam's ever been in the three movies ... and he sort of builds himself up through the course of the film."

In addition to the Transformers series, the talented actor also starred in the 2010 film "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps," ''Eagle Eye" in 2008 and "Disturbia" in 2007.

The Transformers trilogy was based on the cartoons of 1980s that were themselves inspired by the Marvel Comics comic book of the same name.

"Transformers" eyes best opening day of 2011

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Paramount Pictures' "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" grossed $37.2 million on Wednesday in its first full day of play at U.S. and Canadian box offices, giving it the best opening-day gross of 2011.

Including the $5.5 million earned in Tuesday night sneaks, theMichael Bay tentpole has grossed $42.7 million in domestic theaters during its first two days.

The movie is doing strong business in 3D locations, bucking the recent downturn in 3D attendance. Roughly 60 percent of the ticket sales are coming from 3D theaters, including Imax runs, which have raked in a strong $3.3 million.

So far, "Dark of the Moon" is seeing ticket sales running ahead of the first "Transformers," but behind its sequel "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," which grossed $62 million in its first day. "Revenge of the Fallen" opened on a Wednesday in 2009. Comparisons are difficult, however, because of differences in calendar days and the marketplace.

"Dark of the Moon" got an "A" grade from research firm CinemaScore, while 55 percent of Wednesday's audience was under the age of 25, a good sign for the movie's prospects. The last film received a grade of "B-plus".

Wednesday's ticket tally includes $8 million in midnight shows, but doesn't factor in the $5.5 million earned earlier Tuesday night from special 3D sneak previews.

Previously, the best opening day of the year belonged to Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," which debuted to $34.8 million, including $4.7 million in midnights, on a Friday.

"Dark of the Moon" should pick up noticeably as the July 4th holiday weekend gets underway in the United States. Still, Paramount is prepared for the three-quel to come in behind "Revenge of the Fallen," which grossed roughly $200 million in its first five days. Paramount expects "Dark of the Moon" to gross $155 million to $170 million through July 4th, closer to the opening gross of the first "Transformers."