[Lab]

"Collateral" scribe reports for "G.I. Joe" duty

Friday August 31 1:57 AM ET



"Collateral" screenwriter Stuart Beattie is strapping on his helmet for writing duties on "G.I. Joe," a live-action film based on the popular Hasbro action figures.
Paramount is moving fast on the project, having last week signed "Mummy" director Stephen Sommers to shoot the movie. The studio hopes it will be ready for a summer 2009 release.

"Joe" will be based on the toy line launched in the 1980s, which also was tied to a comic book series and Saturday morning cartoon. It is the cartoon version that saw soldiers from all branches of the military fighting a terrorist group called Cobra, led by the Cobra Commander and featuring such villains as the Baroness and metal-faced arms dealer Destro. The strike force featured such heroes as the mute ninja Snake Eyes and the heroine Scarlett, who were led by a Joe named Duke.

Beattie's credits also include "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" and the upcoming horror movie "30 Days of Night."


Reuters/Hollywood Reporter










I can't wait for this one!

[Darkshines]

I thought it was cute how they tied GI Joe into the Transformers movie, mayeb they could reverse it? Even if its just a passing ref like a picture on a wall or "yeah, like you destroyed those damn robots".

[Third Eye]

Oh please I'm tried of seeing these cartoons being turned into box office movies, we all know it's going to be a waste of time and money. The script is just going to be another lame excuse. This will be just another opportunity to make a quick buck or two.

To all producers and directors please leave these cartoons alone. Thanks.

[truffula]

Things are moving forward with GI JOE - Slashfilm is reporting that Ray Park (Darth Maul in Star Wars Ep1) has been cast as SNAKE EYES!!!

Considering that Park is a martial arts expert, this is an EXCELLENT casting move IMO.

[Tater]

no no no no no no no...

I am just going to pretend like I don't know they are making a movie about GI Joe and never ever think of this horror ever again

[LPU]

Ray Park is an excellent choice for Snake Eyes. When you need a faceless, voiceless martial arts expert he's your man.

[truffula]

More casting news:

Already we have Ray Park as Snake Eyes and Sienna Miller as The Baroness with rumors of AVATAR's Sam Worthington circling the role of Duke if AVATAR's schedule isn't pushed back much farther.
IESB broke the casting of Asian star Byun-Hun Lee as ninja Storm Shadow and the studio has confirmed him.
This morning's Variety has info on 3 more member's of JOE's team. We have Scarlett, Breaker and Heavy Duty. Rachel Nichols (P2, AMITYVILLE HORROR) plays Scarlett, a martial-artist specializing in hand-to-hand combat, Said Taghmaoui (one of the smaller roles in THE KITE RUNNER) is Breaker and Mr. Eko himself, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, will play Heavy Duty.

[truffula]

More casting news from AICN:

Marlon Wayans, who did the most amazing one-two punch of performances ever... with REQUIEM FOR A DREAM and DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS, looks to be on the project now. He'll play Ripcord, a leader of the military unit.

The trades also mention Joseph Gordon-Levitt in negotiations to join the flick... Keep in mind this is a GI JOE movie, scripted by Stuart "COLLATERAL" Beattie, helmed by Stephen Sommers (yikes) and starring Darth Maul, Mr. Eko, Sienna Miller and now Marlon Wayans and possibly Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
How bizarre.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Stephen Sommers

avoid like the plague

[LPU]

True that, but I'm at a loss for any director at all that would be able to turn this into something approaching watchable.