Now that Adrianne Palicki has some free time after the Wonder Woman series was passed over, she’s already lined up another kickass lady to play — she’s officially signed on to play Lady Jaye in G.I. Joe 2: Cobra Strikes. Is this a sequel no one really asked for? Yes. But is this a potentially fun role in a crazy, silly romp of a flick? Sure!
Back in 2009, G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra was pretty much what you’d call a flop, but it had Sienna Miller in it, Christopher Eccleston (!), and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a character called The Doctor. Wrap your minds around that. Critics hated it, but audiences thought it was just fine, and since a movie based on toys has merchandising built right into it, why not just make a second one? Maybe it didn’t break even domestically, but that’s why we have international releases, people.
But Lady Jaye is a new, exciting addition to this lineup of characters. Known for her variety of javelins, fluency in languages, and firearm skills, she was heavily featured in the animated series in the ’80s (which I used to watch before heading to ballet class, and that’s why ballet class didn’t last very long, because it didn’t kick nearly enough ass for my 5-year-old taste). She was also a romantic interest for the character Flint, who did not appear in the first movie but will be played by D.J. Cotrona (who almost got the lead role in The O.C. that went to Ben McKenzie) in the sequel. In many incarnations (various comic series and TV shows), she was also Irish. That’s fun, but it wouldn’t be too surprising if they skipped that part of her.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is also a new addition to the cast, playing Roadblock, and casting is still going on to fill the boots of G.I. Joe himself, Joe Colton.
(Deadline)
