At the end of last month, we brought you news that Jon M. Chu’s G.I. Joe 2: Cobra Strikes had been renamed G.I. Joe: Retaliation and that Paramount Pictures had moved the premiere date up to June 29, 2012. The most exciting buzz in the casting rumor mill has been that Bruce Willis may be cast in this nostalgic sequel.

Now, THR reports that Bruce Willis (Die Hard 5, Red) is indeed in negotiations to join the cast of G.I. Joe 2 to play the original Joe, General Joe Colton, who started the G.I. Joe ultimate freedom fighting force.

G.I. Joe: Retaliation stars Channing Tatum, Dwayne Johnson, Ray Stevenson, Byung-hun Lee, Adrianne Palacki, RZA, D.J. Cotrona, Elodie Young, Joe Mazzello, and Ray Park. The film begins shooting this month in New Orleans.

G.I. Joe: Retaliation is slated to hit theaters on June 29, 2012.