G.I. JOE Movie Update: Quaid Is Toy-ified
Dennis Quaid reports on his action figure's anatomy and his Victoria's Secret assistant. Meanwhile, Cobra Commander and the President (!) are confirmed.
Dennis Quaid (right) told a group of journalists in New York, on February 19th, that he won't see a lot of action as General Clayton "Hawk" Abernathy in Stephen Sommers's live action G.I. Joe movie, the Paramount feature scheduled for the summer of '09. "Hopefully, there's going to be two more after this. I don't really have a lot to do here in the first one. I really signed up for the future as well."
But, at least the Vantage Point star has been scanned for an action figure, which, he reports, is "anatomically correct." So, will that correctness be put to any use? "I have no romances, but my aide-de-camp is a Victoria's Secret supermodel (Karolína Isela Kurková, left). Her name is Cover Girl, so it can't be too serious."
In fact, Quaid described G.I. Joe as a mix of the cartoon show, a modern action film, and 60s-era James Bond. "It's somewhat tongue-in-cheek and great action and it just seems like a lot of fun."
Meanwhile, Sienna Miller is getting ready for all the action she'll see as The Baroness. The Stardust star told ZOE at The UK's Sunday Mirror, "I've started taking boxing lessons, and I've also had to learn how to fire guns with live ammunition. I'm a baddie, running around kicking everyone while wearing tight, thigh-high boots. I'm getting muscles everywhere."
According to RYNO at Entertainment News International, reporting from the 2008 Toy Fair in New York, the already-in-shape Ray Park (Star Wars) is prepping for his role as Snake Eyes in a different way: He wants to get an Arashikage Ninja Clan Tattoo.
In the latest casting news, Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock from the Sun) has been confirmed as Cobra Commander. Also, Latino Review's EL MAYIMBE reports that Welsh actor Jonathan Pryce (Pirates of the Caribbean, right) has agreed to the "small but integral" role of the American President.
"I don’t remember the President ever being an important part of the G.I. Joe cartoon, so I don’t know how appropriate or important Pryce’s casting is," admitted Cinema Blend's RAFE TELSCH, "but I am a fan of the actor...although he tends to excel in comedic roles. I can’t say I’m thrilled to have him added to G.I. Joe, but it’s not a piece of casting that bothers me either."
Pryce and Gordon-Levitt join an ensemble that also includes Rachel Nichols (Scarlett), Said Taghmaoui (Breaker), Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Heavy Duty), Marlon Wayans (Ripcord), Channing Tatum (Duke), Byeong-Heon Lee (Storm Shadow), Arnold Vosloo (Zartan) and Christopher Eccleston (Destro).
Apparently, the story will involve two different love stories which may include either or both of the female leads, Baroness (Miller, below left) and Scarlett (Nichols). These entanglements will play out against a myriad of geographic backgrounds, including the Arctic, the (bottom of the) ocean, the Northern Sierra, Moscow and Washington. Also, fans can expect the use of next generation military equipment that allows characters to, among other things, run faster and jump higher than is normal.
DESTRO (the writer, not the Scottish arms dealer) at Hisstank.com enthusiastically filled his report from the 2008 Toy Fair with an expanded preview of the equipment to be used in the movie, and much more.
Hasbro's Neal Hoffman & Aaron Archer presented Paramount's five minute sneak peek at all the toys coming out of the live action feature. There were guest appearances by Hasbro's Brian Goldner, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura and director Sommers.
"They all had a look of pure excitement and you can tell the bar is really set high for this film from what they had to say," wrote Destro. "They really wanted to let everybody know we are getting a real deal G.I. Joe film."
The team presented concept art, 3D renders and other production materials. The costumes looked less like the classic 80's TV series than like the 2004 direct-to-video CGI movie Valor vs. Venom. There also was art and renders of the vehicles, which offered insights into scenes and locations. For example, Destro (the Scottish arms dealer, not the writer) has bases located underwater and on a polar ice cap; and there is a downtown city battle between Neo-Vipers and the Joes, with The Baroness burning rubber in her Scarab, "The SUV From Hell."
According to Destro (the writer), the film, which he described as "a huge mix of Sci-Fi meets Military," leaves considerable room for easter eggs and cameos by Joe/Cobra characters not mentioned in the principal casting.
Paramount Pictures has scheduled the theatrical release of G.I. Joe for August 7, 2009.
[Thanks to Cinema Blend's KATEY RICH, CBR's HANNIBAL TABU, The IESB's SILAS LESNICK, and BRIAN JACKS at MTV Movies Blog.]