After Sony's The Smurfs grossed a grand total of $563 million at the global box office last year, they waited a grand total of 12 days before green lighting a sequel.  The studio has released an official logo (above) for the sequel, titled The Smurfs 2, but there was another surprising Smurf-related development today.  Apparently, Sony has enough confidence in their sequel writers Karey Kirkpatrick and Chris Poche, that they're now giving the go-ahead on The Smurfs 3. Given that the production of The Smurfs 2 is already underway with much of the original cast returning (plus a few new faces), things must be coming along quite nicely.Raja Gosnell, who helmed the first Smurfs film, returns as director for the sequel which also stars Sofia Vergara, Jonathan Winters, Alan Cumming, Fred Armisen, George Lopez, Anton Yelchin and John Oliver. The Smurfs 2 is set for release on July 31st, 2013.  Hit the jump for news on The Smurfs 3.Variety reports that Sony and Columbia Pictures are developing a script for The Smurfs 3 with sequel scribes, Kirkpatrick and Poche.  The duo, who previously worked together on Over the Hedge and Flakes, will draft up a new adventure for the little blue creatures, themselves original creations of Belgian comic strip artist, Peyo.  Kirkpatrick has a long list of kid-friendly fare, including James and the Giant Peach, Chicken Run, Charlotte's Web and The Spiderwick Chronicles. For the sequel at least, new cast additions include J.B. Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm) as the "naughty" Smurf, Hackus and Christina Ricci (Sleepy Hollow) as Vexy, an evil version of the lovely Smurfette (Katy Perry).  Check out all of our previous and ongoing Smurfs coverage here.