Following news that a Snake Eyes movie is in development over at Paramount, now comes word that Ray Park will not be involved.

That was being rumoured when the film was first revealed earlier this month, and Slashfilm now has confirmation that Park will not be reprising the role that he played in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and G.I. Joe: Retaliation. Producer Lorenzo DiBonaventura explained to the outlet that Park won’t be back simply because the movie is an origin story for the character that will require a younger actor.

Paramount Pictures has begun talks with Robert Schwentke to direct the movie. Schwentke is likely best known to genre fans for helming R.I.P.D., RED, and two of the Divergent films. If he does indeed end up involved with Snake Eyes, he’ll be working from a script put together by Beauty and the Beast’s Evan Spoliotopoulos.

In the history of the G.I. Joe property, Snake Eyes has always been seen as one of the coolest characters out there – be that in toys, comic books, animated shows, or even in the live-action G.I. Joe films.

At present, Paramount has a March 2020 release date booked in for a new G.I. Joe effort, although it has yet to be officially confirmed whether said effort is Snake Eyes.

Expect more on this as we get it.