G.I. Joe is expected to spring into action on the big screen, after Paramount Pictures hired the director of the Mummy for a live-action film based on the Hasbro toy. The project, which has been in the pipeline for some time, is thought to have gained fresh impetus following the success of Transformers – this summer’s blockbuster based on another line of top-selling toys found on Hasbro’s shelves.

Director Stephen Sommers will guide G.I. Joe as he battles terrorist group Cobra - fending off a host of villains, including biker gang Dreadnoks and the Baroness - with a 2009 release date in his sights. The film is to be based on a toy line which was launched in the 1980s, entitled G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. However, given the current political climate, the silver screen version is expected to have a more international focus.