Photo: Megan Fox

There are conflicting stories about why Megan Fox, who launched her film career with a role in Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen in 2004, is out of the Transformers series. Some say that sexy Megan Fox was dumped, but representatives for the actress insist that “it was her decision not to return” to Transformers, a live-action film series based on the Transformers toy line.

The 2007 film Transformers, the first in the series, starred Shia LaBeouf (The Greatest Game Ever Played, Disturbia) as Sam Witwicky, a teenager involved in a war between the daring Autobots and the evil Decepticons, two factions of alien robots who disguise themselves by transforming into everyday machinery.

Despite controversy generated by her appearance after director Michael Bay asked her to gain 10 pounds, Megan Fox reprised her role in the 2009 sequel, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

But now, putting Transformers behind her, the actress – who’s made it to several “sexiest actress” lists across the world – is focusing on her work in upcoming movies.

First up is Jimmy Hayward’s  Jonah Hex, which is scheduled for a June 18, 2010, release. In Jonah Hex, an adaptation of the DC Comics series about a scarred gunslinger (Josh Brolin) seeking vengeance on a man who killed his family, Megan Fox plays Leila, a gun-wielding prostitute and  Jonah Hex’s love interest.

In April 2009, Megan Fox signed up to play the lead female role in The Crossing. Slated to be released in 2011, The Crossing is the story of a young couple and their involvement in drug trafficking during a vacation to Mexico. Megan Fox’s character and her husband are returning from vacation when the husband is kidnapped. Fox’s character is forced to smuggle heroin across the border to save her husband’s life in this thriller by writers Byron Willinger and Philip de Blasi.

Megan Fox will also be seen in Passion Play, in which she portrays Lily, a caged circus freak who has angel-like wings growing from her back. Written and directed by Mitch Glazer, Passion Play is the story of how a troubled trumpet player (Mickey Rourke) saves Lily from a gangster (Bill Murray). Labeled a not-so-typical love story, Passion Play promises to be a different kind of movie.

Megan Fox’s Fathom, currently in pre-production, is also a big project – with this she turns producer. Based on the Aspen Comics series created by the late Michael Turner, Fathom is the tale of Aspen Matthews, a marine biology graduate who is descended from the Blue, a race of humanoid ocean dwellers. Megan Fox, a self-proclaimed lifelong fan of Fathom, is looking forward to playing Aspen Matthews.

It has also been rumored that Megan Fox, who starred as the lead character in the 2009 film Jennifer’s Body, may be in the running for Red Sonja, a comic book adaptation about a female warrior.

Photo: Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean

Topping the list of the World’s 50 sexiest male movie stars is, unsurprisingly, Johnny Depp, followed by Robert Pattinson at No 2.

Photo: Robert Pattinson

Frankly, I cannot for the life of me understand the so-called sex appeal of this dopey-eyed boy but then I belong to a different generation, the one that wants to pick him up by the scruff of his neck and throw him in a bath or check him into rehab.

Number three, four and five on the list are Robert Downey Jr., Brad Pitt and Christian Bale.

Sixth on the list is Hugh Jackman, followed by George Clooney, Alan Rickman, James McAvoy, and Gerard Butler.

Photo: Gerard Butler

Of these I would definitely nudge George Clooney and Gerard Butler to number 5 or so.

As for the sexiest female movie stars, the numero uno sexiest star is again, unsuprisingly, Megan Fox.

Photo: Megan Fox

Number two in Angelina Jolie and three is Emma Watson (huh?)

The number four to ten top 50 sexiest female movie stars ever are:

Photo: Scarlett Johansson

4. Scarlett Johansson (I would put her at 2 or 3, as would most XY chromosomes)

5. Zoe Saldana
6. Natalie Portman
7. Kristen Stewart
8. Mila Kunis (Forgetting Sarah Marshall)
9. Helena Bonham Carter