Marlon Wayans enlists in 'G.I. Joe'

Film is set to start shooting next month in L.A.

By TATIANA SIEGEL

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.

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.

Wayans, who most recently starred in "Little Man" and "The Ladykillers," is developing a cop action spoof for Par alongside brothers Shawn and Keenen Ivory Wayans.

He is repped by WMA.

Read the full article at:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117978532.html

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