Credit: Variety
The live-action version of another classic cartoon and toy line now has someone to sit in the big chair.
Paramount Pictures has set Stephen Sommers to direct the live-action feature film G.I. Joe which is set to start production in February. The studio is aiming for a release in the summer of 2009. Lorenzo di Bonaventura will produce with Hasbro COO Brian Goldner.
The recent success of Transformers is what has pushed the film into such quick production. Di Bonaventura said that a lot of the elements involved in that film which made it work so well will be incorporated into G.I. Joe.
“My experience with beloved properties is that characters, attitude and tone are even more important than plot. Paramount showed a great deal of confidence in Stephen’s take, and our ability as producers to get this up and running for a February start. His passion for the characters and the world convinced the studio this was something they couldn’t resist.“
No real plot or casting has been stated as of yet, but both Mark Wahlberg and Jason Statham have been rumored for parts in the film.
