Things are starting to get rolling on Transformers 3, and as you all know, a lot of work must be done in order to make up for what we were given in the first sequel, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

To helps fans start to get excited, some casting and talking has occurred this week, and both are worth peek and a read.

To start things off, The Wrap is reporting that fan-favorite Alan Tudyk has joined the cast of the third movie. It’s not known who the Firefly, Dollhouse, and V star will be playing in the movie, but he’s always a welcome addition to any movie being made. The actor joins fellow newcomers John Malkovich, Frances McDormand, and Ken Jeong Join who were cast in March, as well as Grey’s Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey.

We haven’t heard much in terms of Transformers 3 since Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen hit theaters to a tidal wave of mass disappointment from fans. The third flick in the franchise has been in the news here and there, but with director Michael Bay looking to do something else and lots of drama reported between he and star Megan Fox, it sounded like it would be a long time before we saw it…if ever.

Apparently this is not the case at all. Bay has written a new post on his official blog, and he not only shares three big new names that have joined the cast, but when pre-production will get underway, where the movie will be filming, and even a new Autobot that we’ll see. The interesting trio that have joined the cast are Burn After Reading co-stars John Malkovich and Frances McDormand, and they’re joined by Ken Jeong.

Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks have gone ahead and set July 1, 2011 as the possible release date for Transformers 3.

Though the thought of plans for a third movie already moving forward is pretty exciting, don’t get too far ahead of yourselves and mark off those calendars. Insiders at Paramount have said that this is not official scheduling, but simply just planning ahead a little and obtaining the date. If Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen scores its expected mammoth numbers at the box office, and if a third movie is officially announced, they will look then at this date and solidify it if it’s the best date. If it doesn’t work, then they’ll likely move it to another date — but don’t count on this, as they absolutely love their 4th of July dates. If it’s changed at all, it would probably be to 2012, and we all know what happens in 2012 unless John Cusack saves the day.