By: Ryan 'The Rican with the Irish name' McLelland Source:Variety
Do you hear that? That bell ringing? That is the death bell and it tolls for G.I. Joe.
They said he was "too much money" but now comes the big news: Stephen Sommers is directing G.I. Joe.
Now I needed to change my lament a bit. The recent news was that two scripts were being combined while still having no Cobra in the script, having Cool Dude be the bad guy, and possibly (according to the latest casting rumor) Jason Statham as Action Man - the British version of G.I. Joe.
Now Sommers, known for his craptactular CGI epics like Van Helsing, is onboard. It's reported that execs were sold on his pitch so much that they hired him on the spot. It's also reported that they are hiring a new writer for the project. Does this mean an all-new film? Or does this mean that the new writer is the one bringing together the two films???
The best part about attaching Sommers? They are RUSHING into a February production date.
No script, the scripts they have are horrible, and the guy who casts Arnold Vosloo in movies is directing.
It's as if they just want to crap on my childhood. Thanks Paramount. Thank you very much. You've killed G.I. Joe before it even got off the ground. But I'm sure Cool Dude will be a GREAT villain if you keep him! HUGE! MONSTER! PLEASE INSERT SARCASTIC TONE RIGHT HERE!
From Variety: Paramount Pictures has set Stephen Sommers to direct “G.I. Joe,” a live-action feature based on Hasbro toy line. The studio is hiring a writer immediately, and has set a February production start and a summer 2009 release date.
The accelerated schedule began right after Sommers pitched a version of a film based on the Hasbro toy line to Par topper Brad Grey and production president Brad Weston on Wednesday evening. He was hired in the room.
Lorenzo di Bonaventura will produce with Hasbro COO Brian Goldner. Sommers and his Sommers Co. partner Bob Ducsay will also be involved as producers.
