According to Variety Magazine, Paramount has hired a writer to take over the production set to begin early next year. The film will also focus heavily on the Rock who has just signed back up along with Adrianne Palicki.

From the Variety Website:

Justin Kroll

“With the next installment in the “G.I. Joe” series set to bow in 2016, Paramount has now found the scribe who will pen the third entry in the popular franchise.

Jonathan Lemkin is set to write “G.I. Joe 3.” This marks the second deal Lemkin has closed for the studio as he is also set to pen “The Longest Night” for the studio, based on the GQ article, with Frank Marshall on board to direct.

Most of the cast, including Dwayne Johnson and Adrianne Palicki, are expected to return with Lorenzo di Bonaventura producing. It was initially thought that Jon Chu would return to direct, but as of now he’s not attached to the pic.

Plot details are vague right now but sources say this installment is expected to revolve around Johnson’s character Roadblock, who was introduced in the last installment and soon became a fan favorite.

The idea is to get the film into production by the second quarter of 2015 so that it can make the 2016 release date.

Paramount still views the franchise as a major priority after “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” brought in more than $370 million at the worldwide box office.

Lemkin has worked with di Bonaventura several times in the past. He previously adapted “Shooter,” starring Mark Wahlberg, and the two also worked together during di Bonaventura’s tenure at Warner Brothers, where Lemkin wrote “Devil’s Advocate” and “Lethal Weapon 4.”