Ray Stevenson Enlists For GI Joe 2!

Ray Stevenson Enlists For G.I. Joe 2
By Silas Lesnick
Jul 9th, 2011

Ray Stevenson is the latest name to board Paramount Pictures' upcoming Untitled G.I. Joe Sequel, says a story at The Hollywood Reporter. He will play the film's central villian, a COBRA operative nicknamed Firefly.

The film, to be directed by John Chu (Step Up 3D, Never Say Never), will continue the toy-inspired world depicted in 2009's G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra with a primarily new cast (except for the returning Channing Tatum as Duke, Ray Park as Snake Eyes and, likely, Byung Hun-lee as Stormshadow). Newcomers include Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock, Elodie Yung as Jinx, DJ Cotrona as Flint, Adrianne Palicki as Lady Jaye and RZA as The Blind Master.

Stevenson most recently appeared as Volstagg in Thor and previously visited the Marvel Universe with Punisher: War Zone. Coming up, he'll play Porthos in Paul W.S. Anderson's The Three Musketeers.

For more information on the character Stevenson will be playing, check out the original cardback for the Firefly action figure, courtesy of YoJoe.com and the collection of Corey Stinson.

The GI Joe 2 is headed into production very soon with an eye towards a summer 2012 release.

'Thor' Actor Ray Stevenson to Play Villain in 'G.I. Joe 2: Cobra Strikes' (Exclusive)
The action sequel, to be directed by Jon M. Chu, is slated for release in August 2012. Channing Tatum and Dwayne Johnson star.

8:01 PM 7/8/2011 by Daniel Miller

Thor actor Ray Stevenson has been cast as villain Firefly in Paramount’s G.I. Joe 2: Cobra Strikes. The action movie, to be directed by Jon M. Chu, begins shooting in Louisiana at the end of summer and is slated for release in August 2012.

Stevenson will appear opposite Channing Tatum and Dwayne Johnson in the film, which is being produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura, and follows G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, a hit in 2009.

Stevenson’s Firefly is a member of the villainous Cobra Organization and is known as a saboteur, ninja master and explosives expert.

Other than Tatum, Cobra Strikes will feature an entirely new cast; in addition to franchise newcomers Johnson and Stevenson, the film will include Adrianne Palicki, Elodie Yung, RZA and D.J. Cotrona.

In this summer’s Thor, which has grossed more than $400 million worldwide, Stevenson played Volstagg, one of the Warriors Three. He will next be seen in Summit’s The Three Musketeers in the role of Porthos. The 3D feature is slated for release on October 21. He is finishing production on Jayne Mansfield’s Car, which is being directed by Billy Bob Thorton and also features Kevin Bacon and Robert Duvall.

Stevenson is represented by WME and Conway Van Gelder Grant in the U.K.

Email: Daniel.Miller@THR.com
Twitter: @DanielNMiller