Despite being set to go into production any day now, there has been a last minute change in the G.I. Joe cast. According to IESB.net, David Murray, who was to star in the film as the Scottish Arms Dealer Destro has been replaced by Christopher Eccleston.

It seems that Murray had problems getting into the U.S. and getting his work visa in time for the film to begin production. Although the studio was looking forward to working with Murray, they chose to re-cast the role to allow filming to begin as planned.

Eccleston, who will be replacing Murray, is best known to American audiences for his role as The Doctor in the first season of the revitalized Doctor Who, and for his appearance as Claude (The Invisible Man) on Heroes.

G.I. Joe is being directed by Stephen Sommers, and stars Dennis Quaid (General Hawk, Channing Tatum (Duke), Ray Parks (Snake Eyes), Rachel Nichols (Scarlett), Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Heavy Duty), Said Taghmaoui (Breaker), Marlon Wayans (Ripcord), Christopher Eccelston (Destro), Sienna Miller (the Baroness) and Byung-hun Lee (Storm Shadow), and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Duke's best friend, and possibly Cobra Commander). The film is scheduled to come to theatres August 7, 2009.

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra was released August 7th, 2009 and stars Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Christopher Eccleston, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Byung-hun Lee, Sienna Miller, Rachel Nichols, Ray Park, Jonathan Pryce. The film is directed by Stephen Sommers.