Chrisopher Eccleston has been cast as the villainous Destro in Paramount’s G.I. Joe says The Hollywood Reporter. Eccleston’s credits include 28 Days Later to Heroes and Dr. Who. Irish-born actor David Murray originally had been set for the role, but withdrew from the film because of visa issues. Stephen Sommers is directing the latest script penned by Stuart Beattie. Produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura, the August 7, 2009 release co-stars Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum, Sienna Miller, Ray Park, Rachel Nichols, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Said Taghmaoui, Marlon Wayans, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Arnold Vosloo.
IESB is reporting that Stephen Sommers has cast Arnold Vosloo to play Zartan, a mercenary who works with Destro and Cobra. He is one of the main villains in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic and animated series. Zartan is a chameleon and can imitate anyone to an exact physical and vocal likeness. In the cartoon and comics his chameleon-like abilities were done through a mix of holograms, illusions and hypnosis. Zartan is also fluent in twenty languages and dialects, a ventriloquist, an expert martial artist, master archer and the leader of the biker gang known as the Dreadnoks who also suffers from Paranoid Schizophrenia and Multiple Personality Disorder. The other members of the Dreadnoks, Buzzer, Ripper, Monkeywrench, Zarana, Road Pig, Zanya, Zandar, Thrasher or Torch are not expected to make an appearance in the live action film.
In other G.I. News, IESB also reports that Destro has been cast, he will be played by David Murray. Mainly acting in theater, he has been described as a cross between Alan Rickman and Clive Owen. A strong, good-looking dark haired actor, it is said he can pull off the “aristocratic snob” perfectly. And although Destro had a minor role in the original animated “G.I. Joe: The Movie,” he is the main baddie this time around. In the comics and the animated series, Destro’s full name is James McCullen Destro XXIV, and is Laird of Castle Destro in the Scottish Highlands. He is currently the head of M.A.R.S. (Military Armament Research Syndicate) and wears a mask forged from Beryllium Steel. His sense of honor, calm and cool demeanor and love for the Baroness character are his key traits. As a businessman, Destro is cutthroat and unyielding. He uses his own troops, the Iron Grenadiers, and hires mercenaries to stir up conflict in dangerous regions, then sells weapons to those armies. Continuing a tradition started by the first masked Destro, he will even sell to both sides of the same war.
Dennis Quaid and Channing Tatum have been set as the leads in Paramount’s actioner G.I. Joe. Quaid will play General Hawk, the team leader and Tatum will play Duke Hauser, the lead soldier in the film, which is scheduled to shoot next month in L.A. Pic is set for release on Aug. 7, 2009.
They join Sienna Miller, Ray Park, Rachel Nichols, Marlon Wayans, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Said Taghmaoui and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the live-action film, which is set in the future and based on the popular Hasbro action figures. Stephen Sommers is directing from the latest script, penned by Stuart Beattie. The film is scheduled for an August 7, 2009, release.
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Said Taghmaoui will join Rachel Nichols, Sienna Miller and Ray Park in Paramount’s live action film G.I. Joe says the Hollywood Reporter. Akinnuoye-Agbaje will play ordnance expert Heavy Duty and Taghmaoui will play Breaker, the team’s communications specialist. Nichols was also confirmed to play Scarlett, a skilled martial artist who specializes in hand-to-hand combat and counterintelligence.
Latino Review is reporting that Korean star Byeong-Heon Lee wil play Storm Shadow and Rachel Nichols was cast as Shana “Scarlett” O’Hara in Stephen Sommers’ G.I. Joe adaptation. The two join Sienna Miller and Ray Park, who were previously announced. Opening August 7, 2009, the Paramount action-adventure was written by Stuart Beattie.
Now aside from casting Sienna Miller as the Baroness, the recent casting for G.I. Joe has been really promising.
Slashfilm is reporting that Ray Park has been cast as Snake Eyes in Stephen Sommer’s big screen live-action adaptation of G.I. Joe. Ray Park’s most well-known role was as the short-lived Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Snake Eyes is one of the original members of the GI Joe series although not much is known about the ninja master’s real identity as it has remained classified throughout the series. The U.S. Army Sergeant First Class (E-7) is known for his stealth like movements and extensive knowledge of multiple forms of martial arts. Snake-Eyes is romantically involved with fellow G.I. Joe member Scarlett. The project will hit theaters on August 7th 2009.
Paramount Pictures has begun casting for G.I. Joe to start filming in mid-February 2008 in Prague and Los Angeles. Stephen Sommers (Van Helsing, The Mummy Returns, The Mummy) will direct from a script by Stuart Beattie. The studio is currently calling the film Untitled Stephen Sommers Project. Produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura, the live-action feature is based on Hasbro’s line of action figures. The mythology of G.I Joe was fleshed out during the 1980s through 155 issues of Marvel Comics, as well as an animated TV series. There are about 30 core characters, good and evil, that can be exploited in films.
Paramount Pictures has confirmed that Stephen Sommers will direct G.I. Joe, the live-action feature based on Hasbro’s line of action figures. The studio has also hired Stuart Beattie (30 Days of Night, Collateral, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl) to write the new script. A February production start is planned for a summer 2009 release. Variety says the accelerated production schedule began right after Sommers pitched his version of the film to Paramount chairman-CEO Brad Grey and production president Brad Weston on Wednesday evening. He was hired in the room. Lorenzo di Bonaventura will produce with Hasbro chief operating officer Brian Goldner. Sommers and his Sommers Co. partner Bob Ducsay will also be involved as producers.
