While G.I. Joe 3 was confirmed for a 2016 release date alongside Transformers 5 and Star Trek 3, it's the one sequel will still no very little about. Director Jon M. Chu was once set to reprise his role after helming the well-received G.I. Joe Retaliation. But production delays saw him taking over another Hasbro property with Jem and the Holograms instead, and before G.I. Joe 3 could be officially confirmed by Paramount, the director was courted to jump behind the lens on Now You See Me 2, though a deal has not yet been signed. Now, G.I. Joe 3 producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura is confirming that a new director will be brought in for this sequel, and that the hunt is on. He also says that Dwayne Johnson will have a much bigger role.

Its true that G.I. Joe Retaliation was setting up a story that allowed Dwayne Johnson's Roadblock to take over this action-packed cinematic saga. And that is a thread that will continue in the new movie. Aside from him, though, it's anybody's guess who will return from the previous two big screen adventures.

Lorenzo di Bonaventura explains,

"It's interesting, it's sort of an open possibility right now who could be in it outside of Dwayne Johnson, he has to be in it. The last movie was really the set up, in a way, for Roadblock to take over. Dwayne Johnson came aboard a little late last time so we weren't able to do everything I think we can do this time, and really get a story that services what the audience expects out of him, and also as an actor pushes him into areas that you wouldn't normally explore in a big franchise movie perhaps. We have not talked about any other cast or anything, because we really need a story to be completely signed off by everybody."

About finding a new director, the producer was open about the changes being planned for the franchise,

"We're just starting [to talk to directors]. We're negotiating with a writer right now, and once we close that deal-which should be any moment-then we'll have a story locked down. I'm really excited about it."

That just leaves one question. When is shooting scheduled to begin on this anticipated return to the world of G.I. Joe?

"G.I. Joe3 we are trying to get going, starting early next year...I think it'll be a little later than [January]. I think February or March is probably more realistic. We were originally shooting for January and I think it's slid a little bit, but you never know. It's still a little too early to tell yet."

Aside from Roadblock, who are some of the characters you hope to see brought into this franchise, which is clearly going to be setting up something entirely new as it moves ahead?