Source:Variety

March 17, 2009

Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures have set a July 1, 2011 release date for Transformers 3, but the studios have cautioned to Variety that the dating of the third installment isn't an official announcement that the project is going forward; rather that the studios wanted to plan a stake in the date.

Transformers opened July 2, 2007; Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen debuts on June 24, 2009.

So far, Transformers 3 has no direct competition in its July 1, 2011 date.

Paramount also has moved up the release of Marvel Studios' Thor from June 17, 2011 to May 20, 2011. This move sets the release for Thor just two weeks after Spider-Man 4 opens on May 6, 2011.

UPDATE: Michael Bay has posted a message on his forums which indicates that he meant for Paramount to schedule the third film for 2012, not 2011!

I said I was taking off a year from Transformers. Paramount made a mistake in dating Transformers 3 - they asked me on the phone - I said yes to July 4 - but for 2012 - whoops! Not 2011!!! That would mean I would have to start prep in September. No way. My brain needs a break from fighting robots. -- Michael

We'll have to wait and see how this turns out...