ROTTEN TOMATOES: Stephen Sommers' G.I. Joe Finds Its Duke?

Stephen Sommers' G.I. Joe Finds Its Duke?

Hint: His name does not include the words "Sam" or "Worthington."

by Jeff Giles | January 29, 2008

Remember all those rumors about Sam Worthington being in line to star as Duke in Stephen Sommers' live-action G.I. Joe? Well, they were true. Emphasis on the "were."

Worthington's spokeswoman recently confirmed reports that he'd had to drop out of the running for Joe due to scheduling conflicts with his role in James Cameron's Avatar. Cameron has apparently found it difficult to finish his latest sci-fi epic, and the continual pushbacks eventually created an overlap.

So...who's your Duke, Joe fans? According to Latino Review, producers focused their post-Worthington hunt on three actors -- Chris Evans, Channing Tatum, and Matthew Fox -- and now, sayeth Ain't It Cool News (and confirmed by Variety), the search is over. Drumroll, please...

Channing Tatum, Real American Hero!

As AICN notes, Tatum got his start as "Boy in Church" in Spielberg's War of the Worlds, and followed it with parts in pictures such as She's the Man and Step Up -- but the buzz surrounding his work in the upcoming Stop-Loss suggests he's made the jump to more adult roles. That won't prevent cries of "First Marlon Wayans, now this" from rising up out of the fanboy depths, but hey, it's G.I. Joe. Is anyone expecting Oscar-level depth here?

Well, maybe you are -- and if that's the case, Variety's report that Dennis Quaid has also joined the Joe cast, as "grizzled team leader Hawk," should help you feel a little better about the direction Sommers' squad is heading. Who couldn't use a little extra Quaid in their day?

Source: Daily Telegraph (Worthington article)
Source: Latino Review
Source: Ain't It Cool News
Source: Variety

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Celeb:	Sam Worthington
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(1-20 of 21 posts) | Reply

bethehero7404 writes:
on Jan 29 2008 05:29 AM

Eh? We'll see. Funny thing is that John Cena would have worked too, so would have Mark Wahlberg if we were going for a "non-Oscar calabur performance." A "Name" would have been good in a title role. I can't wait to see Ray Park in this though.

(Reply to this)

Astr0creep writes:
on Jan 29 2008 05:34 AM

Although I really like Quaid as Hawk(perfect casting in my opinion), I really can't see a lot of "military experience" in Tatum's traits...

They must be gunning(forgive the pun, it's intended) for a GIJoe origin story, with the Joes still in training as the cast is way to young to portray a team of great, experienced military warriors, no?

Personnally I would prefer an origin story like this rather then Sommers trying to convince us that mere kids can be part of the best team of military special forces ever.

From the cartoon it was always apparent to me that the youngest Joes, such as Scarlet for example, are at least in their early thirties, not late teens.

Wasn't Duke a war veteran?

Here's hoping this won't be showing on a saturday afternoon on the CW in the next two years...

(Reply to this)

TombstoneLawDog writes:
on Jan 29 2008 07:22 AM

I hate to admit it, but adding Quaid actually DOES increase-- however marginally-- my interest in this movie. I've always liked his work.

And then I remember a) That Marlon Wayans is in this and B) that in this version, 'GIJoe' stands for 'Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity' ?!?!?! and I want to stab myself in the nuts just to distract from the pain of that title.

(Reply to this)

Astr0creep writes:
on Jan 29 2008 07:26 AM

Actually, aside from Wayans and Tatum, the casting so far is pretty good.

IF they go for an origin story.

(Reply to this)

Astr0creep writes:
on Jan 29 2008 07:27 AM

Actually, aside from Wayans and Tatum, the casting so far is pretty good.

IF they go for an origin story(in which case Tatum is Ok).

(Reply to this)

John Z. Delorean writes:
on Jan 29 2008 08:23 AM

I would've gone Paul Walker as a young Duke. Tatum is way too young for the role and he's an acting stiff.

(Reply to this)

a blind goat writes:
on Jan 29 2008 08:52 AM

And Walker isn't a acting stiff. Chris Evans would have been the best choice.

(Reply to this)

Fondude Sixer writes:
on Jan 29 2008 09:02 AM

I second the Walker. I loved Chris Evans as Human Torch. He might have hammed this up a bit. Or totally proved me wrong. Now we'll never know. I do like the Quaid addition, and Vosloo as Zartan makes my day. Especially since he's out of the Destro running. Close call.

(Reply to this)

renodc writes:
on Jan 29 2008 09:26 AM

I don't know much about Tatum to make comment on whether he fits the role of a young Duke, but I am disappointed that Worthington won't be able to take the role. I think he would have been perfect.

Outside of the uncertainty in the role of Duke, this cast looks excellent, which makes one wonder if possibly the casting director and Stephen Sommers had simultaneous mini-strokes when casting Marlon Wayans.

(Reply to this)

Astr0creep writes:
on Jan 29 2008 09:47 AM

Vosloo as Zartan?

Wohooo!

(Reply to this)

Eldorado writes:
on Jan 29 2008 10:18 AM

No more work for that tool Paul Walker!! Make him finally go away!!

(Reply to this)

Astr0creep writes:
on Jan 29 2008 10:34 AM

In reply to this comment (#1537137)
Yeah he should've died instead of Heath Ledger!

(somehow they are alike to me. Not in terms of talent but... something else)

(Reply to this)

punktuate writes:
on Jan 29 2008 11:29 AM

i never saw those jump around lame dance movies he did but the rest of the cast is pretty sic so i'm totally looking forward to it, everyone pissed themselves when they heard tobey maguire was playing spiderman and look how badass he was so give the kid a chance plus darth maul as snake eyes just look at that and know the movie will be badass

(Reply to this)

Matanuki writes:
on Jan 29 2008 11:45 AM

In reply to this comment (#1537165)
Wtf?!... Look man, no matter what you think of the guy's work (and he wasn't bad in Running Scared), that's nothing less than an incredibly stupid thing to say.

(Reply to this)

taran72 writes:
on Jan 29 2008 11:47 AM

Turning down Summers for Cameron? What the hell was he thinking?

Why all the hate for P. Walker - he was decent in Running Scared, so give him a chance.

(Reply to this)

Astr0creep writes:
on Jan 29 2008 12:29 PM

I haven't seen Running Scared.

Yes, it was harsh and too soon.
I humbly apologize.

(Reply to this)

MixxdUp28 writes:
on Jan 29 2008 02:23 PM

Fox and Evans must have declined. Which sucks.

(Reply to this)

Matanuki writes:
on Jan 29 2008 05:25 PM

In reply to this comment (#1537498)
Hey, it's cool. We don't hold grudges here. Saying something stupid every now and then is something we all do. Being stupid, well, is like being one of those unfortunate souls on the Meet The Spartans boards defending that mess of a movie.

Definitely check out Running Scared though. I've come to think of Walker as one of those kind of actors whose abilities are elevated by good material.

(Reply to this)

CoUcH ToMaToE DoUgIe writes:
on Jan 29 2008 08:56 PM

hey as long as Chris Evans is not allowed on the premises of

the G.I. Joe set, i will stay interested. Yo, Joe!!

(Reply to this)

aka_nympho writes:
on Jan 30 2008 04:59 AM

Awesome, maybe Tatum can two-step all over the bad guys... that is, if he decides to "step up" to the plate...

(Reply to this)

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