Transformers 2 is officially a go for June 26, 2009. Variety confirms that Paramount is so anxious to get Transformers 2 into theaters in two years that it is willing to start shooting the movie before the possible strikes hit Hollywood in June 2008, shutting down production, and then resume filming after things have settled.
One other item of note that could screw things up: Steven Spielberg and David Geffen are threatening to walk away from business dealings with Paramount unless the studio has a regime change. If TF2 happens soon, and Spielberg is mad enough to not participate in exec producing the sequel, it may affect closing the deal for Michael Bay and Shia LaBeouf to return.