"Collateral" scribe reports for "G.I. Joe" duty

By Borys Kit

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "Collateral" screenwriter Stuart Beattie is strapping on his helmet for writing duties on "G.I. Joe," a live-action film based on the popular Hasbro action figures.

Paramount is moving fast on the project, having last week signed "Mummy" director Stephen Sommers to shoot the movie. The studio hopes it will be ready for a summer 2009 release.

"Joe" will be based on the toy line launched in the 1980s, which also was tied to a comic book series and Saturday morning cartoon. It is the cartoon version that saw soldiers from all branches of the military fighting a terrorist group called Cobra, led by the Cobra Commander and featuring such villains as the Baroness and metal-faced arms dealer Destro.

The strike force featured such heroes as the mute ninja Snake Eyes and the heroine Scarlett, who were led by a Joe named Duke.

Beattie's credits also include "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" and the upcoming horror movie "30 Days of Night."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter