'Transformers 3' to release on July 1, 2011

Washington, March 17 (ANI): Paramount and DreamWorks have decided on July 1, 2011 to be the release date for 'Transformers 3'.

Paramount insiders have revealed that studio bosses made this move because they wanted to claim the date before any competitor did, considering that the 2011 summer release calendar is filling up.

The release date for the film has been selected despite the fact that no deals have been inked with director Michael Bay or franchise stars Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox.

Even no writer has been hired for the third instalment as yet, reports Variety magazine.

Paramount has also changed the release of Marvel Entertainment's 'Thor' from June 16, 2011, to May 20, 2011, on behalf of Marvel Entertainment, which is producing and financing the superhero picture.

The change came just days after Marvel said that it was pushing back the release of 'Thor' by a year, from July 16, 2010, to June 16, 2011. (ANI)