G.I. Joe Live-Action Movie Release Date Set, First Casting News

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GrnMarvl14

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ComingSoon.net reports that Paramount Pictures has set an August 7, 2009 release date for the G.I. Joe movie, to be directed by Stephen Sommers
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For those unaware, the movie will be markedly different from any previous incarnation:

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Who needs A Real American Hero? Not Paramount or Hasbro it seems. The studio's live-action feature film version of G.I. Joe will no longer revolve around a top-secret U.S. special forces team but rather an international operation.

In a follow-up to their confirmation that Stephen Sommers will direct G.I. Joe, Variety offers this new description of the team: "G.I. Joe is now a Brussels-based outfit that stands for Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity, an international co-ed force of operatives who use hi-tech equipment to battle Cobra, an evil organization headed by a double-crossing Scottish arms dealer. The property is closer in tone to X-Men and James Bond than a war film."

Wow. A Real Globally Integrated Hero! Can we assume that this "double-crossing Scottish arms dealer" is Destro since he was one in the comics? And does that mean there will be no Cobra Commander in it?

So why the changes? Hasbro and Paramount execs recently spoke about the challenges of marketing a film about the U.S. military at a time when the current U.S. administration and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are at a low-point in global polls. When a studio makes a film as expensive as G.I. Joe will likely be, they want to know that as many people as possible around the world will want to see it. In other words, G.I. Joe -- "A Real American Hero" -- is a tough sell.

Although the new G.I. Joe team will be international in scope, don't expect Joe's British counterpart Action Man to be included after all. IESB.net reports, "Looks like he will be gone, this new script is set to be 100% GI Joe, it will revolve around the characters we all grew up with fighting Cobra, Destro, the Baroness and Storm Shadow. When do they expect to have this new script ready? Six to eight weeks. Pre-production is expected to start by October-November and production to start early '08."

"Our vision (for The Mummy) was clear the time the first trailer played during the Super Bowl, and by the time this one plays a Super Bowl, you'll see the coolest characters and visuals you can imagine, and beyond-state-of-the-art equipment," Sommers informed Variety. "I wouldn't have jumped into this just because of the Hasbro-Transformers tie. Remember, Pirates of the Caribbean was a big hit, but Haunted Mansion not so much."

Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura added, "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."
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I bet Larry Hama's rolling over in his grave. Or...would be.

EDIT:
Looks like the Baroness has been cast. Sienna Miller will be in the role. Can't say I'm...entirely unhappy with that casting decision.
 
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I watched some of the G.I. Joe cartoon when I was little, and now just finding out about this live action movie, I am not very happy.

I mean, changing the entire jist(spelling?) of G.I. Joe and making it appealing for the modern day audiences and slapping it all together with high budget special effects just doesn't cut it with me.

Everyone has their own opinon about stuff like this, and that was mine.
 
Not to sound like a troll but growing up I always thought GI Joe was just a ploy to brainwash kids to join the military when they turn 18...

but I guess since there is a GI Joe and a Transformers movie, does that mean Furbie and Barbie are next?
 
One of my friends is a long time Joe collector. He's said that a lot of Joe fans are not happy about this at all. He doesn't seem too thrilled himself.

I honestly don't know how to feel about it: I'm a Transfan, not really a Joe fan. I'm willing to give it a chance if the story doesn't suck. But the way it sounds, the story is probably going to suck. And that's just sad.

Bell02二世 said:
but I guess since there is a GI Joe and a Transformers movie, does that mean Furbie and Barbie are next?
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Well, we did have a Bratz movie earlier this year. And I believe it was Ridley Scott who said he was interested in doing a Monopoly movie, iirc. (No, I'm not kidding.)
 
Oddly enough, I could see a Monopoly movie working if it was like a cartoony parody of Citizen Kane or some other "corrupt politician/businessman" movie.
 
Bell02二世 said:
Not to sound like a troll but growing up I always thought GI Joe was just a ploy to brainwash kids to join the military when they turn 18...
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...Who told you that? That's supposed to be a government secret. Or it's the result of having a gun expert creating it. But I love Larry Hama's work.

but I guess since there is a GI Joe and a Transformers movie, does that mean Furbie and Barbie are next?
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I'm genuinely shocked that there HASN'T been a Barbie movie yet.

Silverwynde said:
Well, we did have a Bratz movie earlier this year. And I believe it was Ridley Scott who said he was interested in doing a Monopoly movie, iirc. (No, I'm not kidding.)
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If we start moving into the realms of board games, I may just have to nuke Hollywood.

One of my friends is a long time Joe collector. He's said that a lot of Joe fans are not happy about this at all. He doesn't seem too thrilled himself.
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Seems like the G.I. Joe fans are going to do what the TF fans did when details on the TF movie started leaking out.

Zeta said:
Oddly enough, I could see a Monopoly movie working if it was like a cartoony parody of Citizen Kane or some other "corrupt politician/businessman" movie.
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Like Mr. Magoo in Orson Welles' role?
 
GrnMarvl13 said:
I'm genuinely shocked that there HASN'T been a Barbie movie yet.
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Well, Mattel seems to be fine doing the direct to DVD stuff for Barbie. They are trying to put together a Masters of the Universe movie, though. And it looks like it may not please its fanbase, either.

If we start moving into the realms of board games, I may just have to nuke Hollywood.
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Tell me about it. Reminds me of that Robot Chicken sketch that aired during the second season- "Slip 'N' Slide: The Movie!" So much for that being parody. =/

Seems like the G.I. Joe fans are going to do what the TF fans did when details on the TF movie started leaking out.
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Yeah it seems so, if a bit worse. Joe fans have a tendency to be a bit more conservative about their hobby; from what I've heard, most (not all, mind you) fall into either the "Rah rah, America" group or the "Rah rah, military" group.

Case in point- an episode of Sigma Six featured the Joes grouped around an upraised flag. It was a U.N. flag and not American.
There was much bashing on the Joe forums.

And I'll admit, as a Transfan I had my doubts about the success of the movie. I did try to keep an open mind and was pleasantly surprised. (Hey, they did something right; I fell in love with Bumblebee all over again!)
 
Like Mr. Magoo in Orson Welles' role?
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Exactly. Like if they got Leslie Neilsen or a similar actor to star in it as crazy, greedy, old Mr. Moneybags in Depression-Era America.
 
OH THANK GOD! I was wishing this movie were to be true! <3
Bell02二世 said:
Not to sound like a troll but growing up I always thought GI Joe was just a ploy to brainwash kids to join the military when they turn 18...

but I guess since there is a GI Joe and a Transformers movie, does that mean Furbie and Barbie are next?
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We're having a Speed Racer movie next year I believe, also there's been rumor about a Voltron and a Captain America movie.
 
Cap's slated for 2009 or 2010 to be part of an Avengers movie extravaganza that starts with Iron Man.

Anyway, Gi. Joe gets a movie and it's called G.I.J.O.E. This could be hit or miss like Transformers was and even that's getting a sequel. I was a kid in the 80s and I remember the direct to video G.I. Joe movie.

The toon wasn't really a military promotion thing. It was to sell toys. Basically ALL toons in the 80s were like that. So, I'm guessing the nexxt few 80s toons made int movies could be Jem and a few others. 80s nostalgia is on the rise now becaus people my age are rising in Hollywood. So, this isn't a surprise.

They are making a live action Voltron. As for this movie, it could be good or bad. Should be interesting nonetheless.

Cobraaaa!

LX

Edit: Oh yeah. Hasbro made both Tfs and Gi Joe toys. I wonder who are thye gonna get for Cobra Commander. The person who played Starscream in the toon played Cobra Commander. Dare they do the same with the guy who played Starscream in the movie and make himCobra Commander?
 
Isn't Starscream/Cobra Commander's original voice actor dead?
 
Yeah. Chris Latta died in the early 90s. He voiced those two. They're gonna need to find someone Scottish to b Destro. Maybbe an unknown with Sean Connery doing the voiceover.

LX
 
I believe Ted Lewis is CC's Sigma Six voice actor, right now. (Yes, it is a guilty pleasure of mine. Ted is icing on the big cake of shiny anime corniness.)


And LOL at the UN outrage. I remember a similar one about their role in Happy Feet...
 
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