Marlon Wayans has been cast as Ripcord in the upcoming G.I. Joe movie. Per Variety, Ripcord is the leader … wait, what? In any event, you can read about Ripcord’s history here.
Per Variety:
War-themed story is set 10 years in the future. Stuart Beattie penned the screenplay, while Paul Lovett & David Elliot and Skip Woods contributed earlier drafts.
The Stephen Sommers-helmed film is set to start shooting next month in Los Angeles. Rachel Nichols, Sienna Miller, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Said Taghmaoui have already joined the cast.
Lorenzo di Bonaventura, who produced the Hasbro-based hit “Transformers,” is producing “G.I. Joe” alongside the toy giant’s Brian Goldner. Sommers and partner Bob Ducsay also will serve in a producing capacity.
Paramount will release the film on Aug. 7, 2009.
Variety also reports that Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who you may remember from Third Rock from the Sun, is in negotiations to join the movie as well.
January 7th, 2008 at 7:50 am
First
Worst. Idea. Ever.
January 7th, 2008 at 7:55 am
There goes all hope I had for this movie.
January 7th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Yeah, everybody knows comic actors can’t do dramas. I mean, just look at what happened when Jamie Foxx tried to do dramas!
January 7th, 2008 at 8:21 am
I would feel the same way if not for Requiem for a Dream. Wayans showed real range and talent in that film. He normally does dreck like White Chicks and Litte Man, but don’t count him out completely.
January 7th, 2008 at 8:34 am
I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.
January 7th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Because GI Joe was such a bastion of realistic drama.
January 7th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Joseph Gordon-Levitt might be interesting. Did you guys see Brick? Nice noir set in a high school, he was fantastic in that.
January 7th, 2008 at 9:15 am
If anyone is expecting “Requiem for a Dream” or “Brick” from “GI Joe”, I think they’ll be in for a big shock.
January 7th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Anybody complaining about the cast of a summer action movie based upon a line of action figures they played with in their youth needs to realize that they’re complaining about the cast of a summer action movie based upon a line of action figures they played with in their youth.
January 7th, 2008 at 9:51 am
i consider myself a good GI Joe fan and what not…..but i had trouble remembering who Ripcord was.
my guess is they’ll kill him so duke can be promoted or something.
January 7th, 2008 at 10:10 am
I lost hope for this after seeing what was done with Transformers(yeah, I was one of the few that didn’t like it), but it looks like we’re heading into Steel or Batman & Robin territory with this movie. It’s sad since, next to He-Man, G.I. Joe was my favorite toy property as a kid.
January 7th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Please let this be a stupid rumor. I have no problem with him joining the cast, and I don’t care if Ripcord’s race is different, but that stuff about him being the leader?
Bad, horrible, terrible idea.
January 7th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Fire the guy who cast Marlan Wayans! Where’s Donald Trump?
January 7th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Not a comment on this article, which is sort of huh? Wha? I just hope people stop using the phrase “I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.” Can we as a community put an end to it please?
January 7th, 2008 at 11:31 am
I think I just threw up in DaVeo’s mouth a little!
January 7th, 2008 at 11:45 am
It’s magic…they don’t have to explain it!
January 7th, 2008 at 11:46 am
ugh.
and isn’t it MarlOn, anyways?
January 7th, 2008 at 11:46 am
…and maybe at some point someone will realize that he spells his name MARLON.
January 7th, 2008 at 11:48 am
inb4 Robot House Brian
January 7th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Yeah, it’s Marlon with an ‘o’.
I honestly had no idea which Wayans he was until I googled him.
In any case, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has really come into his own as an actor in recent years, with Brick the prime example of his newfound chops. His casting would be good for the film and good for his bank account, surely.
January 7th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Don’t like Ripcord as the leader, but Marlon Wayans isn’t terrible casting.
Just wait, casting for Hawk and Duke will be announced next week.
January 7th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
“Yeah, everybody knows comic actors can’t do dramas. I mean, just look at what happened when Jamie Foxx tried to do dramas!”
January 7th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
At least cast a Wayans who’s been lead in an action movie, like Keenan or Damon.
January 7th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
So. I can get over them casting a black actor to play a traditionally white character. That’s not so much of a change. But I do have trouble envisioning Ripcord, of all characters, as the leader of the unit. He may have a long history with the team, but so do a lot of other members. Ripcord’s never been the leader type, not like Duke, Hawk, Flint…
Hey, here’s an idea. You want to cast Marlon Wayans as a leader-type? Stalker. There’s an original member with history, leadership experience, -and- he’s always been a black character. Not to mention, he’s a better badass than most.
I see they’ve cast Heavy Duty (isn’t he like, Roadblock-lite?) and Breaker, Storm Shadow and Snake-Eyes, and Scarlet. Here’s hoping we see a few more of the classics, like Rock N’Roll, Clutch, Gung-Ho, Shipwreck, Lady Jaye or Cover Girl. And Wild Bill in a cameo. :>
January 7th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Daveo = hater.
I hope they cast someone like (but definitely not) Matthew McConaughey for Rock ‘n’ Roll (maybe Josh Lucas).
Other hopes: Stone Cold Steve Austin as Gung-Ho, Catherine Bell as Lady Jaye, Brendon Fraser or Casper Van Dien as Duke, Tommy Lee Jones as General Hawk and Gary Oldman or Christopher Lee as Cobra Commander.
January 7th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Good god… I wasn’t expecting an Oscar winner with G.I.Joe…but Damn. they’re really aiming low on this one. Marlon Wayans? This guy just has a knack for being cast inappropriately. The was a rumor Tim Burton had him in mind for Robin in Batman Returns, and oh jeez, Dungeons and Dragons… And then…Ripcord? I’m a Joe fanantic and I can barely remember a hardhitting storyline with Ripcord… Okay Hollywood we get it, you hate us 80’s kids.
January 7th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
OFFICIALLY NOT SEEING THIS PIECE OF CRAP
The only talent that ever came our of IN LIVING COLOR was Jamie Foxx and Jim Carey. The Wayans are not that good at all? Glimmer Man anyone? Worse enough GI JOE got all PC. I can’t believe my childhood franchise is bastardized ! My god ! I know some haters are out tehre saying”Give it a chance now, look at Transformers…”
TRANSFORMERS DID NOT HAVE ANY WAYANS BROTHER/SISTER IN IT !! GIVE IT A CHANCE MY @$$ !
Marlon can’t act….unless he is a junkie ala REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, but anyone see LADYKILLERS? JUICE?
What next? Dino Riders vs MASK ?
January 7th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Instead of being cast as Ripcord, they should have created a new character , Token. He could be their video game expert.
January 7th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
No Joe!!!!
January 8th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Unless they’re unexpectedly using Wayans in a dramatic role here, I’m losing faith in the potential for a good movie here. But I’m still keeping my fingers crossed that this can be good. Oh, and Newsarama, it’d be nice if you’d ask my permission to use the Ripcord scan from my website next time. I mean, I know I don’t legally have any claim to the original copyrighted image, but even piddling little fan sites are polite enough to ask first.
January 8th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Oh, dang it… Now I have to apologize!! That “learn more about Ripcord” link is to my site. Sorry, can we be friends again?
January 8th, 2008 at 11:35 am
well, the same critics complained hugh jackman playing a 6′2 wolverine, and look how that turned out!!!
January 8th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Now Wayans playing COOLBREEZE I can see, but Ripcord? In the comics or cartoon, I cannot recall a significant story he was a main player in. At least Raptor was involved in the “killing” of the original Cobra COmmander and that guy dressed like a bird in borad daylight?
I am sorry, but with the lame GI JOE acronym, rumors of Clooney as a producer (want to see how good he was, go see the craptacular Pu-239 on HBO, go ahead I’ll wait……), and now Marlan “riding-the-coat-tails-of-Shawn-Damon-Keenan Ivory” Wayans ? Please! This makes COBRA - LA look good! Where is Nemesis ENforcer when you need him?
January 8th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
oh yeah, how can i get my account activated to post threads on news stories? someone email me at LINYTeacher28@yahoo.com to tell me please, I have been reading comics now for 17 years and really got gripes with the “microwave” memory of many newbie fans
-SYLAR WESKER
January 8th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Even though VARIETY said that Ripcord is to be the leader of the G.I. JOE team, I don’t believe that for a second. To me, VARIETY just made a mistake because Marlon is so far the only well-known star (outside of us fanboys) to be cast so far and VARIETY is making an assumption he’s the leader, IMO.
Duke has been generally recognized as the field leader of the Joe team in all its various onscreen incarnations, and I believe he’ll be the team leader in this movie. Ripcord will have a big role, but I think it’ll still be a supporting role.
That being said, a bigger name than Marlon Wayans will be cast as Duke…
January 8th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Marlon Wayans!
The guy that always acts like he’s on speed?
January 23rd, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Wayans as Ripcord…why not? I hear a lot of people bashing him, saying he can’t play a serious role, but I believe in him. As far as Ripcord as the leader…to be honest, it took me a second to recall the character. I’d think a more well known leader would have been a better choice, but hey, let’s see what happens.