AICN just broke the casting news that Channing Tatum has won the role of Duke in the upcoming big screen adaptation of G.I. Joe.

The actor is a twenty-seven year old from Alabama. His past film work includes She's the Man and Step Up. Stephen Sommers is directing the film, which is based on a cartoon and toy franchise from the 80s.

G.I. Joe is now a Brussels-based outfit that stands for Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity, an international co-ed force of operatives who use hi-tech equipment to battle Cobra, an evil organization headed by a double-crossing Scottish arms dealer. The property is closer in tone to X-Men and James Bond than a war film.

G.I. Joe will open August 7th, 2009.