'G.I. Joe' Producer: Director Firing Rumors 'Completely Untrue'

Duke is the code name of First Sergeant Conrad S. Hauser. In both comic and cartoon incarnations, he is field commander and second-in-command of the G.I. Joe Team after Hawk.ParamountAccess Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Was director Stephen Sommers "locked out of the editing room" on "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra?"

So went an online rumor that emerged on Thursday, which stated that Sommers, who has helmed such films as "The Mummy" and "Van Helsing," was fired from the summer movie and replaced by edited Stuart Baird after testing poorly with audiences.

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However, in an interview with film Web site Latino Review posted on Thursday afternoon, "G.I. Joe" producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura shot down the rumors.

"We had three test screenings, three different times and tested it and each time it just got better and better," he said. "We started off in a good place and we ended up in even in a better place, which is what you hope on a film from testing it.

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"It's very unfair to Steve," he continued. "It's completely untrue - he was never asked to leave or been fired or any of that. That's ridiculous. The movie tested very well."

"G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra," based on the popular action figure line and cartoon shows, is due in theaters on August 7.

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