Transformers 2 in 2009?

According to Lying in the Gutters, a comic/entertainment rumor site (about a 70% accuracy rate), preperation has already begun for Transformers 2 for 2009 and a cartoon series based off the first movie.

From the site:

ROBOTS IN DIS GUISE

"Transformers 2" is being prepped for 2009, as is a new cartoon series to spin off the upcoming movie.

The reason given to licensors as to why the robots look so different in the film is so that hardcore fans will stay loyal and keep buying the old toys, which they're relaunching, even if they hate the new movie.

Licensing has explicitly stated that companies doing merchandising have to avoid doing anything too similar to the original Transformers line, so as not to mix the two separate and profitable properties.

The rumor has legs mainly because "prepped" can have such a wide open interpretation. It could run the gamet of Bay and Spielberg in a room going "hey you thinking about directing the sequel?" to as far as scriptwriters assigned and working on a draft.

More then likey it just means the studio has high hopes for the film and if the opening week does the money they hope it does (I am thinking they are aiming for $100 million week), the penciled in hope for a sequel gets written in ink. The goal is to build a franchise and lots of money has been invested. Of course the same was done for Eragon, and look what happened. Characters, story and execution, the pillars of a successful franchise (or any movie really), falter in any and all the kings money can't put the franchise back together again.

The bit about the fans buying both lines, as a collector of the toys, pretty insulting. Also accurate. Damn them and their pretty toys.