More Films Go 3D--Including "Transformers 3"

By our guest blogger, Matt Jussim

It comes as no surprise that the third "Transformers" film looks to be happening in 3D with Michael Bay, Paramount and Industrial Light & Magic all in talks to discuss going the extra dimension with the film, reports Variety.

According to Variety: Michael Bay's next project is "Transformers 3," and there have been discussions among Bay, Paramount and Industrial Light & Magic about going 3D with the picture.

The big stumbling block is the extra time required to do production and visual effects in 3D, as the movie's release date is already set. Due to the time factor, Bay's filming style and the complexity of the visual effects, it may just be 'converted' rather than shot and produced in 3D.

The move comes amidst a '3D conversion' boom with many upcoming and catalog titles getting the 2D-to-3D treatment. Korean company Stereo Pictures, for example, is at work on converting the upcoming "Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore" into 3D as well.

Michael Bay has said in the past that 3D is a gimmick and that his agressive filmmaking style is not conducive to 3-D filming, but it seems Paramount does not agree.

I don’t think the disagreement between Bay and Paramount will have much effect on the film. The first two have made a ridiculous amount of money and there is no reason to think that the third won’t as well, 3D or no 3D. In my opinion, I think it would be pretty sweet to see Optimus Prime transform and defend Shia LaBeouf’s Sam Witwicky in three dimensions.

Paramount has set a July 1, 2011 release for "Transformers 3," which will begin shooting in May.