Stephen Sommers to direct G.I. Joe

The Mummy director Stephen Sommers is set to direct upcoming Paramount Pictures flick G.I. Joe.

Washington, Aug 24 : 'The Mummy' director Stephen Sommers is set to direct upcoming Paramount Pictures flick 'G.I. Joe'.

The live-action film, based on military-themed action figures by Hasbro toyline, will be produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura with Hasbro chief operating officer Brian Goldner. Sommers and his Sommers Co. partner Bob Ducsay will also be involved as producers.

The 'G'I' Joe' flick has gained momentum after the release of 'Transformers', which is based on another Hasbro brand.

Sommers insisted that he decided to get involved with the project because of the many characters, good and evil, that can be explored in the film.

"I wouldn't have jumped into this just because of the Hasbro-Transformers tie. Remember, 'Pirates of the Caribbean was a big hit, but 'Haunted Mansion' not so much," Variety magazine quoted Sommers, as saying.

"Our vision (for "The Mummy") was clear the time the first trailer played during the Super Bowl, and by the time this one plays a Super Bowl, you'll see the coolest characters and visuals you can imagine, and beyond-state-of-the-art equipment," he said.

The studio is planning to hire a writer immediately, and has set a February production start for a summer 2009 release.

Di Bonaventura insisted that Stephen's take on the film and the various G.I. Joe characters has convinced the film bosses that the film has elements that made 'Transformers' work as a film which grossed 667 million dollars worldwide for studio partners DreamWorks and Paramount.

"My experience with beloved properties is that characters, attitude and tone are even more important than plot. Paramount showed a great deal of confidence in Stephen's take, and our ability as producers to get this up and running for a February start. His passion for the characters and the world convinced the studio this was something they couldn't resist," di Bonaventura said.

ANI