Hits summer of 2009! Check it out: Snake Eyes (Ray Park/Darth Maul) pics: IMDB info Channing Tatum ... Duke Sienna Miller ... The Baroness Joseph Gordon-Levitt ... Cobra Commander Dennis Quaid ... General Hawk Rachel Nichols ... Shana 'Scarlett' O'Hara Christopher Eccleston ... Destro Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje ... Heavy Duty Ray Park ... Snake Eyes Marlon Wayans ... Ripcord Arnold Vosloo ... Zartan Jonathan Pryce ... U.S. President Saïd Taghmaoui ... Breaker Byung-hun Lee ... Storm Shadow (I'll add more info as I find it)
'G.I. Joe' Executive Producer Reveals Details About The Flick ... And The Action Figures! 'For fans, they're really going to love this, because we take them on a journey,' says Brian Goldner, who is also a bigwig at Hasbro. By Larry Carroll, with reporting by Brian Jacks * Del.icio.us * Digg * Newsvine * Send to Friend * Print * You Tell Us Your grandparents remember a rah-rah line of 12-inch dolls with kung-fu grip, providing a male alternative to Barbie. Your older siblings (or, gasp!, parents) grew up with a highly stylized, action-packed, endearingly goofy cartoon franchise fueled by 3 3/4-inch action figures. You might recall anything from G.I. Joe Extreme to the Classic Collection, to pop-culture references like "knowing is half the battle." Now, a star-powered G.I. Joe movie has begun filming. But the question remains: What will the movie's Joes be like? For the answer, we went straight to the only man who commands both Destro and General Hawk. Brian Goldner is the chief operating officer at Hasbro, which first introduced Joe to action-minded adolescents in 1964, and is also the executive producer on the "Transformers" and "G.I. Joe" movies. " 'G.I. Joe' has just gone into filming this past week, with a great cast and a tremendous story all based on the comics and the animation," Goldner said. "I think fans, and fans to come, will really love what we're doing." (In the MTV Movies blog, Goldner talks about the possibility of G.I. Joe's classic vehicles showing up in the movie.) Undoubtedly, such statements are as musical to the ears of longtime fans as the TV show's theme song. But stars like Dennis Quaid, Sienna Miller and Marlon Wayans have been met with varying degrees of enthusiasm from such fans, and Quaid himself recently confirmed that many beloved characters — including Wild Bill, Shipwreck and Tomax and Xamot — won't be in the flick. "We all really loved what G.I. Joe was about in the '80s; we loved that story arc and the concept of Joe vs. Cobra," said Goldner, explaining that the people who created those characters will return, even if some of their creations won't. Comics writer Larry Hama, Goldner confirmed, "is onboard, and he's working with us on the script. "And you may see him in the movie," he added. Noting that the flick, directed by "Mummy" mastermind Stephen Sommers, will largely sidestep the TV show and be more "about the comic books," Goldner revealed some of the major characters and plotlines the film will explore. "We all know of the Arashikage [ninja clan], and we all know of Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow, but we need to build that story," he explained. "We all know the story of Duke, and the story of the Baroness. ... We know the story of Destro, but do we really? We need to go back and tell the origin story of how you get a Scottish arms dealer, who comes forward in history — how does that happen?" "And Cobra Commander," he added, referring to the evil terrorist leader who fan sites have reported will be portrayed by "Brick" star Joseph Gordon-Levitt. "In effect, this is all about the rise of Cobra Commander. ... For fans, they're really going to love this, because we take them on a journey. ... We have to go through the first chapter and then build from there." Goldner was also eager to respond to the controversy over rumors that the patriotic nature of "G.I. Joe" was being toned down in order to be more appealing to a worldwide, post-9/11 audience. "Duke, in our story, really represents the pre-1983 G.I. Joe," he said, linking Channing Tatum's character to the dolls of the '60s and '70s. "If those fans that grew up on the 12-inch Army man are looking for where their anchor should be, it's in Duke; he's the leader of the team and clearly American. "But the story, just like in the comic books, was a story that took us all over the world," he continued. "That's all we were really trying to get at. And everything else that fans have heard, about the early ideas or contemplations, that's really gone. ... We're talking about a story that's going to take us all over the world, from the desert to under the water, to the mountains to cities. ... Clearly, the American military is involved, as are other forces. But at the end of the day, the force that matters is the G.I. Joe force, and the Pit, and all the things that relate to that." We caught up with Goldner at the New York Toy Fair, where he was giving fans a sneak preview of the G.I. Joe toys of the future. At the front of his thoughts, however, was the real-life stars who'd soon be creating the action figures' action. "We think it's amazing to have Channing Tatum as Duke, because I think he has a different kind of fanbase," said the executive producer, who in May will become Hasbro's CEO. "Clearly, Sienna Miller has a wonderful fanbase. Dennis Quaid as General Hawk, he has a tremendous fanbase. So bringing them all together, as an ensemble cast, is going to be really dynamic and something that people haven't seen before. But it'll still be very true to G.I. Joe." The next question would seem to be a logical one: Will the Joes we know and love be replaced by toy versions of Marlon Wayans and Arnold Vosloo? "Well, what was so magical about the '80s G.I. Joe was the 3 3/4-inch product," Goldner said, revealing that the dimensions of the star-faced toys would be along the lines of the "Real American Hero" line. "[That size] gives people a chance to get all the figures but get all of the vehicles. So it's going to be in that scale. ... Very true to where we were in the 1980s, and then we'll take it forward. "Steve Sommers is very different," Goldner said, contrasting him with "Transformers" director Michael Bay. "But he's perfect, because if you think about his movies like 'The Mummy,' it's the perfect action/adventure movie. If you think about what we're trying to do for G.I. Joe, really bringing back that '80s G.I. Joe from the Marvel comics — those first 155 issues are really our focus. If you think about that, you'll understand what we're trying to get at with all those characters and all the intricate relationships. "I don't think you'd see this movie as wacky," he promised, alluding to some of the more eccentric characters from the cartoon show. "I think you're going to see this movie as being inspirational for younger kids and totally in the sweet spot for the guys who grew up on G.I. Joe." In August 2009, we'll see it with our own eyes. In the meantime, "G.I. Joe" continues to shoot all over the world, with a budget so huge that it makes the U.S.S. Flagg aircraft carrier play set look like something you'd get at a 99-cent store.
Hollywood has ran out of idea's... Not a knock on this movie at all; I'm looking fowered to it. Just in general they have lost idea's so they are turning to anything & everything like a saturday morning cartoon (Transformers) or even action figures (G.I. Joe).
I figured we would see this since Transformers was such a smash. G.I. Joe and Transformers were the quintessential 80's cartoons for anyone who's in ther 30's now. I just hope it's better than Transformers, which was a pile of garbage, IMO.
wait rachel nichols the same red head espn anchor was able to land a movie role? i'll be first in line first day watching this either way edit: its not its another redhead with the same name whew
if you didn't like transformers, get ready to be disappointed with this one. it will be your typical summer action flick. lots of big explosions, little substance.
It looks like the movie is going to be based more on Larry Hama's comic book version of GI Joe than the cartoon version. The red insignia on his shoulder and sword is the symbol from his and Storm Shadow's ninja clan. Snake-Eyes wasn't prominent in the cartoon but was the main character in the comics. Hopefully, the movie will focus more on Snake-Eyes and less on Duke (lame, boring character). I'm glad Larry Hama is onboard though. It means that the movie is going in the right direction.
Larry Hama is supposed to be a consultant, but I've seen things that have bugged me, so whether he signs off on this movie or not, that doesn't mean it will be as good as it can be. Stephen Sommers is an airhead of a director and I can't believe he could get a potentially huge franchise like this after the crapfest that was Van Helsing (wait, that's exactly how Hollywood works). In an ideal world a guy would have to make some other movies and earn another chance like this. Some of the casting choices make you shake your head....in disgust, like Chaning Tatum as Duke or Joseph Gordon Levitt as Cobra Commander. Marlon Wayans as Ripcord? I mean, first of all, Ripcord was not a prominant character and he wasn't black. Where the hell is Roadblock when you need him? GI Joe is changed from a real american hero to a multinational joint taskforce and their base of operations is in. . . . EGYPT (this is funny because Sommers directed the 2 Mummy movies plus you know he is going to do something corny and hide their base under a pyramid or the Sphinx). If you don't mind getting spoiled, this is a script review and then some other spoilers from Lation Review, both were pulled off the site (the script review at the request of Paramount, the spoiler rundown was just pulled without explanation, like it never existed). Spoiler SCRIPT REVIEW: MASSIVE SPOILER TERRITORY! I HAVE RECENTLY COME UNDER REX LEE/THE DOCTOR/COBRA COMMANDER’S MIND CONTROL THROUGH THE NANOMITES BEHIND THE INCISION SCAR OF MY RIGHT EAR JUST LIKE ANA LEWIS AKA THE BARONESS AKA COBRA COMMANDER’S SISTER IN THE MOVIE! IN OTHER WORDS EL MAYIMBE IS NOW A MEMBER OF THE DIABOLICAL COBRA ORGANIZATION! I’VE GONE ROGUE COURTESY OF AMY POWELL, THE SR VP OF INTERACTIVE MARKETING OVER AT PARAMOUNT! SO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE HUH?! WHICH GIJOE ACTUALLY DIES? HOW? COVERGIRL GETS IMPALED BY STORM SHADOW’S KATANA BLADE WHEN SHE ENTERS HAWK’S STATEROOM. STORM SHADOW THEN STABS HAWK IN THE GUT PARALYZING HIM. WHO DOES ZARTAN CLONE? THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AT THE END OF THE MOVIE THERFORE LEAVING IT WIDE OPEN FOR THE SEQUEL! ZARTAN SPENT 18 MONTHS STUDYING THE PRESIDENT, LEARNING HIS MANNERISMS, ADOPTING HIS EATING HABITS, AND LOSING SIXTY PERCENT OF HIS OWN MUSCLE MASS. WHAT’S UP WITH COBRA COMMANDER? DUKE’S BEST FRIEND IN THE BEGINNING OF THE MOVIE IS MEDICAL OFFICER REX LEE. DUKE IS GONNA MARRY REX’S SISTER ANA (aka the soon to be Baroness). REX WILL BE BEST MAN. DUKE PROMISES ANA TO TAKE CARE OF REX ON A MISSION THAT GOES TO HELL. REX IS SUPPOSEDLY KILLED OR SO WE THINK. REX REAPPEARS AS THE MASKED DOCTOR WHO BREATHES THROUGH A MASK AND BY THE END OF THE MOVIE BECOMES THE COBRA COMMANDER. THOSE JFX ONLINE PICTURES THAT LEAKED OF THE BARONESS? THAT IS ANA AT HER BROTHER’S REX FUNERAL. ANA THINKS REX IS STILL DEAD AND DOESN’T KNOW THE DOCTOR WORKING AT MARS IS HER BROTHER. HOW DOES THE BARONESS BECOME DECOBRAY AND WHY? SHE MARRIES LEON DECOBRAY WHO RUNS A LAB IN FRANCE. HE WEAPONIZES DESTRO’S WARHEADS. SHE IN TURN, DIVORCES HIM. DIDN’T THE BARONESS HAVE FEELINGS FOR DUKE? WHAT GIVES? SHE IS UNDER HER BROTHER’S MIND CONTROL. HAS A SMALL INCISION SCAR BEHIND HER RIGHT EAR. IT’S ALL ABOUT MIND CONTROL AND NANOTECHNOLOGY FOLKS. ANY BIG TIME DESTRUCTION IN THE FILM? OH YEAH! DESTRO GETS EVEN WITH THE FRENCH AND TOPPLES OVER THE EIFFEL TOWER! IT COMES CRASHING DOWN INTO THE SEINE. NANOMITES EAT THE **** OUT OF IT. ANYTHING ELSE HAPPENS? YEAH, DUKE GETS CAUGHT BY THE BAD GUYS JUST LIKE HE DID IN THE CARTOONS BACK IN THE DAY. WHERE IS MARS HEADQUARTERS? AT THE POLAR ICE CAPS UNDERWATER HOW DO THE JOES GET THERE? IN THE NIGHT RAVEN DOES DESTRO WEAR HIS FAMOUS MASK? AT THE END. HIS FACE GETS BURNED THAT THE NANOMITES FORM A MASK AROUND MCCULLEN’S FACE HENCE DESTRO IS BORN. ANY COOL TECH? YEAH, THE JOES HAVE MARK ONE ACCELERATOR SUITS LIKE THAT VIDEO GAME CRYSIS. MAKES YOU RUN FASTER, JUMP HIGHER AND HIT HARDER. BAD ASS! SO NOW YOU KNOW!
My childhood is being pilaged. Is nothing sacred? What's next a Muppet Babies CGI flick.... a live action Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers flick.... a The Littles CGI monstrosity?
Right because the cartoons were so much more. Nothing wrong with a little mindless action now and then.
I was a big fan of the cartoons, but not the action figures. The torso always broke away from the legs.
After the original Superman sequels, I haven't really cared for any comic book movie. I don't think I even saw the superman movies in the theater either. Superman sequels are still the best and the measuring stick as far as I'm concerned. And I almost forgot the original Star Wars. The only comic book movie I really want to see is the Heath Ledger flick. The Joker? I was amped to see UNDERDOG till I realized they made underdog a real dog. Totally BS! I would have loved to see underdog the movie as a true cartoon, but I guess that's too much to ask.
