Sienna Miller is The Baroness

Sienna Miller has been announced as the first cast member to sign on for the live-action “G.I. Joe” film, according to Variety. the role is described as "a raven-haired baroness and sexy femme fatale skilled in espionage." [Wizard] = which sure as heck's not Scarlet, innit? HAH. personally, it all seems like a miscast (as hawt as Sienna seems on select online-images) and an obvious play at harnessing "star-power" (*gack*), not least 'coz the movie-script is as yet uncompleted due the to the Writer's Strike, innit? gimme some official styling-images to shut my mouth encourage me, purleeze!

Baroness serves as the COBRA Organization's intelligence officer and lieutenant to Cobra Commander. With long black hair, black rimmed glasses, and a black leather outfit, Baroness is a dark, sensual femme fatale whose beauty is matched only by her ruthlessness. In both comic and cartoon incarnations, she has romantic relationships with Destro. [wiki]

“G.I. Joe” will be directed by Stephen Sommers and is slated to begin production in February with an eye towards a summer 2009 release. The Paramount film based on the popular toy line will focus on a European-based military unit known as Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity (G.I.J.O.E.), a high-tech, international force of special operatives that battles an evil organization led by a notorious arms dealer.

G.I.Joe Release Date Set and Hasbro Speaks-up

ComingSoon.net reports that Paramount Pictures has set an August 7, 2009 release date for the G.I. Joe movie, to be directed by Stephen Sommers from a Stuart Beattie script. [via] ... eh? i thot the Writer's Strike is still going on? a tad fearful that they're just going to go ahead with a complete script, is all ... well, that's showbiz, i reckon! [image via DialBForBlog]

meanwhile, HASBRO attempts spin-control reinforces their product-line:

"Hasbro's G.I. Joe Team wanted to take this opportunity to clarify some of the facts regarding the G.I. Joe live-action movie that we are developing with Paramount Pictures.

First and foremost, we are not changing what the G.I. Joe brand is about. The name "G.I. Joe" will always be synonymous with bravery and heroism.

The G.I. Joe brand has enjoyed a successful 43-year history, spanning two key generations. The first was the line of 12-inch "realistic military" figures that were popular with kids in the 1960s and 1970s.

The second generation, was created in 1982, and is based on a cast of fictional heroes and villains that make up the "G.I. Joe vs. Cobra" fantasy. The premise of this fantasy is the story of the G.I. Joe team, led by Duke, and their "fight for freedom wherever there is trouble" against the evil Cobra Commander and his Cobra force. This storyline was an instant hit with kids in the early 1980s, spawning a highly popular 3-3/4-inch action figure line, comic book collection and animated series.

This movie will be a modern telling of the "G.I. Joe vs. Cobra" storyline and its compelling characters that Hasbro created 25 years ago. The G.I. Joe team will not be based in Brussels. Instead, they will be based out of the "Pit" as they were throughout the 1980s comic book series. And, in keeping with the G.I. Joe vs. Cobra fantasy, the movie will feature characters and locations from around the world. Duke, the lead character and head of the G.I. Joe team, will embody the values of bravery and heroism that the first generation of G.I. Joe figures established.

G.I. Joe is a very important property to Hasbro and we thank all of our fans for their enthusiasm. Without all of you, the brand would not be where it is today."

[via SHH]