Transformers 2 to be released in 2009

Friday, September 28, 2007

Washington (ANI): With Transformers grossing nearly 700 million dollars worldwide, bosses at Paramount and DreamWorks plan to have a sequel of the movie out on June 29, 2009. The studios also hope to have original director Michael Bay signing up to helm Transformers 2.

However, while the studios are extremely eager to have the movie ready and in theatres in 2009, they are still saying that the project is not a done deal as yet. According to insiders, this is due to ongoing battle of wills between DreamWorks' David Geffen and Steven Spielberg and leadership at Paramount conglom Viacom. "Transformers" was a passion project for Spielberg, who took an exec producer credit on the pic, with DreamWorks developing the project and taking the creative lead after partnering with Paramount – before the studio bought DreamWorks.

Spielberg was also the one who brought Bay aboard to direct and LaBeouf to star. He's expected to be involved in the sequel. Bay is in the final stages of negotiation, and once he signs on, LaBeouf is expected to return as well, reports Variety.