G.I Joe 2 to shoot in spring 2011 for a summer 2012 release

Back in August after G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra opened to around $100 million (it grossed $300 million in total worldwide) Paramount vice chairman, Rob Moore, confirmed that a sequel would soon go into development. This was followed by the hiring of Zombieland writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick in January, and since then nothing more has been confirmed while the duo (who are also writing Deadpool) work on the script.

Well today producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura revealed that filming on the sequel will likely take place early next year, with the aim of a summer 2012 release.

From MTV:

MTV: Have Reese and Wernick delivered a script yet?

Lorenzo di Bonaventura: We’re not that far. I think it’ll be pretty soon. It’ll need a lot of work. They all do. I’ve had an occasion to read some of their pages, so I know the quality is there and the sense of tone is there. Paramount is very excited about us getting it going. No dates have been set. In our heads we think 2012 — that summer.

MTV: So then you’d start shooting when?

di Bonaventura: We’d probably start next spring.

He also said that while all the cast were great, “it’s hard to manage as many characters as we tried” and that “it would make life a little easier to have a few less.” This could mean Channing Tatum, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and other members of the cast may not be returning.

We’ll probably find out who’s in or out over the upcoming months, as well as who Paramount hire to direct. Last year Stephen Sommers said he was interested in returning to direct the sequel, but he hasn’t officially signed on yet.