The massive success of Transformers has unleashed an avalanche of impending 80s cartoon to movie adaptations, and a the forefront of the rockslide is Paramount’s adaptation of G.I. Joe. With Transformers raking in billions, it looks like they’re moving faster on it, and now IESB says it has a director.
They claim Paramount has offered the job to The Mummy and Van Helsing director Stephen Sommers. Previous rumors had indicated it might be Skip Woods, and Sommers was supposed to be working on When Worlds Collide, but if this is true I guess we can throw all of that right out the window. Sommers won’t have time for When Worlds, Paramount will almost certainly want this fast tracked.
Can Stephen Sommers do for G.I. Joe what Michael Bay did for Transformers? They’re both effects heavy action directors, though Bay had a much lengthy and profitable pre-Transformers pedigree. Bay also had Giant Freakin Robots, while Sommers is making a family friendly soldier movie. I think he’s got his work cut out for him. G.I. Joe could use a transforming Jeep. Advantage Optimus.
