Pamela McClintock and Tatiana Siegel of Variety:
Paramount and DreamWorks are holding the date of June 26, 2009, for "Transformers 2," with Michael Bay expected to return to direct the sequel.
Despite the tensions between them, DreamWorks and Par have plenty of incentive to move forward with the next installment in the budding franchise. "Transformers," starring Shia LaBeouf and based on the toy robot line, has grossed nearly $700 million worldwide, giving DreamWorks its first live-action franchise.
Still, the high-profile project isn't guaranteed total immunity from the ongoing battle of wills between DreamWorks' David Geffen and Steven Spielberg and leadership at Paramount conglom Viacom.
The studios stressed that they are targeting the June 26 date, but that it isn't ironclad.
Even if Spielberg and Geffen exit their deal at Par, as they have threatened to do, the "Transformers" property stays at the Melrose lot, as do all other DreamWorks projects.
"Transformers" was a passion project for Spielberg, with DreamWorks developing the project and taking the creative lead after partnering with Paramount (that was before Par bought DreamWorks).
Spielberg, who took an exec producer credit on "Transformers," was closely involved with the film, including bringing Bay aboard to direct and LaBeouf to star. He's expected to be involved in the sequel.
Bay has not yet inked a deal to helm the follow-up but is in the final stages of negotiation. With Bay's involvement, LaBeouf is expected to return as well. ...
DreamWorks and Par are hoping to at least begin production on the "Transformers" sequel before a possible strike even if they have to finish after it...
Meanwhile...
It's amazing that all the bad blood between Spielberg, Geffen, and the studio will be overlooked in the pursuit of making buckets of cash on the sequel.
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