Lee Byung-hun’s agency has confirmed via THR that the actor is signed on to star in Paramount and Hasbro’s G.I. Joe 2.
The confirmation comes after months of rumor and speculation that Storm Shadow would be featured in the sequel to G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra despite his ninja assassin character taking a blade through the torso by Snake Eyes and plummeting into the cold arctic seas. One specific report claimed that Storm Shadow’s role would be expanded in the sequel.
Just last week Rise of Cobra director Stephen Sommers was confirmed to not be returning for G.I. Joe 2 so no director is currently attached. Zombieland writers and Joe fans themselves Rhett Rheese and Paul Wernick have been at work on the G.I. Joe 2 script since last year.
Lee Byung-hun’s agency also suggested that G.I. Joe 2 would begin shooting in June with a summer 2012 release date. Paramount is expected to opt for an August opening like Rise of Cobra to avoid their own distribution of Marvel’s The Avengers and Star Trek 2 in July and June, respectively.
