Excited for Jon M. Chu’s G.I. JOE: RETALIATION? Come on, there’s a few of you out there, don’t be scared. Well, if the last batch of casting additions (The Rock, The RZA, The Adrianne Palicki) weren’t enough to get you psyched for the sequel, then how about this – Bruce Willis is close to signing as the original Joe himself, General Joe Colton. Booya!

If Willis commits, he’ll be joined by the aforementioned trio, as well as Channing Tatum, Ray Park and Byung Hun-lee, who will reprise their roles from THE RISE OF COBRA.

While I stand by the first film as a knowingly over-the-top, unashamed actioner, it undoubtedly had more than a few flaws. I’ve no personal investment in the property per se (didn’t collect the action figures as a kid, nor its UK equivalent ACTION MAN) but it seems Chu is aiming to make a tonal shift from the cartoony approach of the first film, to a gritty, more ‘realistic’ aesthetic for the second. Hardcore fans seem to be very encouraged by this switch, but having enjoyed RISE OF COBRA for embracing the more goofy elements of the original comics and animated series, we’ll have to wait and see whether it’s the right decision in terms of getting the franchise on the side of a mass audience, though the presence of Dwayne Johnson and Willis has undoubtedly given them a head start in those stakes already.

Just hoping that this doesn’t interfere with the rumoured DIE HARD 5 we were talking about last week.

Paramount has scheduled G.I. JOE: RETALIATION for a June 2012 release.

Will Bruce make a good addition to the cast? Are you willing to give the franchise a second chance? Let us know with your comments below!

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