Transformers 3 Hitting the Streets of Chicago on July 4

Reel Chicago reports that Michael Bay's Transformers 3 will start filming in Chicago on July 4th. The filming in the Windy City is expected to take seven weeks. Here are some excerpts:

Chicago Film Office director Rich Moskal calls the upcoming big-budget shoot “a blockbuster in every sense of the word; in terms of economic impact, stunts and special effects.”

They will shoot along Michigan Avenue and throughout the Loop.

Starting May 10 "T3" will work out of Chicago Film Studios Chicago (the Ryerson steel plant), occupying 300,000 sq. ft. for offices, stages, construction, wardrobe, transportation, etc., according to studio manager Alex Pisseos.

"T3" will shoot in six other world cities in the continuing saga of the admirable Autobots and dastardly Decepticons, who disguise themselves by transforming into everyday machinery.

Transformers 3, starring Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Kevin Dunn, Julie White, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich and Ken Jeong, is scheduled for a July 1, 2011 release.