Bruce Willis the O.G. in G.I. Joe 2: Retaliation?

Okay, let’s clear the air. I despised G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and didn’t have high hopes for the sequel, but Bruce Willis is now circling an interesting role in G.I. Joe: Retribution (formerly G.I. Joe: Cobra Strikes), and that news is all kinds of action-movie goodness.

No signatures have been put on contracts yet, but THR brings word that Willis is in negotiations to play THE G.I. Joe, as in General Joe Colton, the guy who created the G.I. Joe strike team. If you have fond memories of that ages-past action figure that came with his very own dog tags, then you’re probably feeling that wave of sweet nostalgia wash over you right now.

Does this mean G.I. Joe: Retribution will be a good movie? No, but the potential is definitely increased if Willis hops onboard, especially since he’ll be joining an impressive cast that includes Dwayne Johnson, Adrianne Palicki, Ray Stevenson and RZA. Oh yeah, Channing Tatum is still hanging around as Duke, but he’s outnumbered by people that actually have talent, so Joe could actually be a contender this time around.

G.I. Joe: Retribution begins shooting later this month in New Orleans, with Paramount shooting for a June 29, 2012 release.