Is George Clooney a Real American Hero?

This story actually broke yesterday, but I couldn't let it pass without some mention. George Clooney is rumored to star in the upcoming, live-action G.I. Joe movie.

Let me say that again, George Clooney, the actor who has drawn attention in the past for moving from more big-budget projects like The Peacemaker and Batman and Robin to more indie/artistic films such as O Brother Where Art Thou?, Goodnight and Good Luck, and Syriana, is (apparently) actually *wanting* to star in G.I. Joe.

Why? Evidently because Michael Clayton underperformed at the box office, and he feels the need to star in a film that could make lots of money so he can get more of his beloved indie films into production.

More after the jump!

So who would Clooney be playing? Who else? Duke, aka First Sergeant Conrad S. Hauser, G.I. Joe's second-in-command and probably the team's most recognizable member. Mark Wahlberg was previously rumored to be connected to that role, but has apparently dropped out.

Stephen Sommers (The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, Van Helsing) will direct, and Stuart Beattie (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Collateral, 30 Days of Night) is working on a rewrite of the script.

Well, this movie has definitely become more interesting to me. I'm not going to go so far as to say that Clooney is a sellout for wanting to be in this movie, but could this be another Batman and Robin for Clooney?