Credit: Variety
Marlon Wayans has signed on to star in Paramount actioner G.I. Joe.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is in negotiations to join the tentpole, which is based on the American soldier action figure created by Hasbro.
Wayans will play Ripcord, leader of the military unit.
Gordon-Levitt will play Duke Hauser’s best friend. He is the science officer assigned to the Special Forces unit. The role of Hauser is still uncast.
The war-themed story is set 10 years in the future. Stuart Beattie penned the screenplay, while Paul Lovett & David Elliot and Skip Woods contributed earlier drafts.
The Stephen Sommers-helmed film is set to start shooting next month in Los Angeles. Rachel Nichols, Sienna Miller, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Said Taghmaoui have already joined the cast.
Lorenzo di Bonaventura, who produced the Hasbro-based hit Transformers, is producing G.I. Joe alongside the toy giant’s Brian Goldner. Sommers and partner Bob Ducsay also will serve in a producing capacity.
Paramount will release the film on Aug. 7, 2009.
