Rumor Smash - No Progress on Transformers 2?

There are reports going out on the various websites that Dreamworks has told MTV that no progress has been made on Transformers 2 which contradicts reports from Michael Bay himself. I believe this rumor to be false and misreading the source article.

The actually line is "DreamWorks Studios claims to have no production office set up for the "Transformers" sequel" All that means it what is says, there are no offices at Dreamworks Studios. Considering the strike just ended and Bay has his own production offices, effects company, and working with ILM, and actually shooting doesn't begin until June, he may not need the space.

Another line in the article says "there are no status updates relating to their projects". Of course this comes from "executives close to several major films derailed by the strike." Well, as this blog has shown in many cases, Bay has refused to be derailed by the strike, going as far as to write a draft of the script. Also Dreamworks has lots and lots and lots of executives. The ones quoted for the article are more then likely not the same executives (say Steven Spielberg) that would be kept apprised of Transformers 2 progress.

Finally, there are people other then Bay that have indicated that pre-production is in full swing. Shia LaBeouf has already seen pre-viz, Scott Ferrar and other members of the TF2 visual effects also indicated progress at a recent interview at the VES awards show. Basically if Bay is lying, its one vast and completely unnecessary conspiracy by multiple people to mis-state the progress on Transformers 2.

Or, more simply, the article and its sources have it wrong.

Update: Bay commented on his board about the article, "Oh really???? Is that why 20 people in production are in my office right now, another 20 art designers another location, scouts in two countries, one back east??? Don't ever bet against me in making my date - June 2009!"