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Turns out those rumors about White Chicks star Marlon Wayans being cast in G.I. Joe are true. Although the initial buzz was that Wayans, 35, was in the running to play Heavy Duty -- a role that ultimately went to Lost's Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje -- he will actually play the lead role of Ripcord.
According to Variety, Ripcord is now the leader of the Joes. While there's no mention of traditional Joe leaders such as Duke, Hawk or Flint being in the Stephen Sommers-directed film, the trade paper adds that Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Brick, The Lookout) is also in negotiations to join the project in an undisclosed role.
In the comics, Ripcord (a.k.a. Ohio native Wallace A. Weems) is a HALO (high altitude-low opening) jumper.
Variety also reveals that G.I. Joe will be set 10 years in the future. Filming begins next month in Los Angeles for an Aug. 7, 2009 release.
In addition to Wayans, Gordon-Levitt, and Akinnuoye-Agbaje, the cast of G.I. Joe also includes Ray Park (Snake-Eyes), Rachel Nichols (Scarlett), Sienna Miller (The Baroness), Said Taghmaoui (Breaker), and Byung-hun Lee (Storm Shadow).
Marlon Wayans' credits include Little Man, Scary Movie, Scary Movie 2,Dungeons & Dragons, Norbit, The Ladykillers, and Requiem for a Dream.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 27, has appeared in Shadowboxer, Treasure Planet and the upcoming Killshot and Stop Loss. He was also a regular on 3rd Rock from the Sun.
