The LA Times is reporting that The Mummy director Stephen Sommers will not return to direct the sequel to his 2009 GI Joe film. Rumors abounded over his difficulties in getting along with Paramount Studios during the first GI Joe film, but they had announced he would direct the sequel a few months back. Seems there was a change of heart.
Two agents who represent other filmmakers have said they’d recently been approached about their clients coming on to helm the movie and were told that Sommers would not be getting behind the camera. Paramount declined to comment.
I am a fan of Stephen Sommers. The first two Mummy films were a lot of fun, and at the heart of his work is that very thing: Fun. He’s not writing and directing the next Oscar Best Picture- he’s a Hollywood workhorse making modestly budgeted fun films, and I like that. GI Joe was really only okay, though, so I don’t feel like this series is losing anything with his departure.
