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Chris Eccleston as James McCullen Destro XXIV aka DESTRO in G.I. JOE.
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DESTRO from G.I. JOE

By: Associate News Editor
Date: Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Source: IESB

Paramount Pictures has supplied the IESB with an exclusive first look at DESTRO and the official M.A.R.S. logo from the upcoming G.I. JOE live action film.

Chris Eccleston plays James McCullen Destro XXIV aka DESTRO. David Murray was originally set to play the villian but dropped out.

Born in Callander, Scotland, Destro is Laird of Castle Destro in the Scottish Highlands. The Destro clan has designed and sold weapons for centuries, and Destro is the head of their current incarnation: M.A.R.S. (Military Armament Research Syndicate). He wears a mask forged from Beryllium Steel, a tradition dating back to the English Civil War, when an ancestor of his was caught selling weapons to both sides. Forced to wear a steel mask for his crimes (neither side wanted to execute the ancestor because they still wanted the weapons he sold), the Destro clan has since turned it into a symbol of pride, passing it down from father to son for over 20 generations.

Stephen Sommers directs the film which also stars Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum, Sienna Miller, Ray Park, Rachel Nichols, Said Taghmaoui, Marlon Wayans, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Arnold Vosloo. The film will hit theaters on August 7, 2009.

Click here to see the larger image of DESTRO. And in a related story, an image of Heavy Duty was released too.

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Comments/Responses

rgtchtiger • May 07, 2008, 05:33pm •

Okay, so the character's description mentions the family masks passed down from generation to generation, so why doesn't the pic feature Destro in his mask? Right now he looks like a Bond villain. I like the casting of Eccleston as the character, but if Destro's going to wear his mask for some or all of the movie he better not look too hokey.

vaporman • May 07, 2008, 05:45pm •

So is there no Cobra Commander then?

sportwarrior • May 07, 2008, 06:40pm •

Chris Eccleston seems like a solid step up from David Murray... I had to look Murray up, and his roles include the "jumpy thug" from Batman Begins and a Lieutenant in King Arthur... That's name power, right there.

Myrddin • May 07, 2008, 07:35pm •

Yeah, I want to see the mask too.

And Vaporman, if you really want to know, do a like google search. I saw they spoiler and wish I could have gone in not knowing. I'm sure it would have been obvious once I sit down to watch the movie, but it would've been a cool "aha" moment in the theater. I think imdb.com even has it spoiled.

gauleyboy420 • May 07, 2008, 07:38pm •

I love Christopher Ecleston as Destro (hell I love him in any role ESPECIALLY as the Doctor!) But I said this in another thread and it applies here as well....
I defended the making of this film UNTIL I saw these SHITTY, SUPER SHITTY costume designs. SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They totally could've gone the X-2 route or X-3. Yeah I know the movie wasn't as good as the first 2, but the costume design was good. It incorporated the traditional colors but they were muted . Thats how these costumes could've been Muted more militarized versions of the ones we know and love.

Don't try to say the old The costumes wouldn't translate into a real life movie. Spiderman, Daredevil, X-3, are just a few that showed us if they take the time and find a costume designer with talent (not just talent for copying other movies costumes) these classic and iconic looks CAN be successfully translated to the big screen.

Whats the point of having G.I. Joe without the flare? It's just another Para-Military movie.

shogunpimp • May 07, 2008, 08:25pm •

It seems like the mask is going to be more of an homage to the cartoon than a staple of this movie's version of Destro. I don't mind this choice since it would be extremely difficult to have any connection to him if he runs around in a metal mask all the time, especially if he is playing the villian with the most screen time. You wouldn't get to see any of his emotions or reactions either. In fact I can't imagine a more boring bad guy than some dude in silver mask. Personally, I'll withold judgment until I see the film.

mckracken • May 07, 2008, 09:00pm •

ok I like Ecleston, i liked him in 28 days later, and Dr. Who but how is THAT DESTRO??
he looks like an ordinary business man? wheres the silver mask?

SONYMANswallows • May 07, 2008, 09:12pm •

COBRA COMMANDER IS JOSEPH GORDON LEVITT from 3rd rock from the sun and 10 things I hate about you and THE LOOK OUT.

mckracken • May 07, 2008, 09:14pm •

oh yeah.. Street Fighter... 'nuf said.

AzuLTaLoN • May 07, 2008, 11:58pm •

J.G.L. is outstanding in an indie movie called Manic which is totally awesome.
Why no mask? I hope he wears it for a good 30 minutes, also a very good actor possibly great, but time and casting and role choice will tell.

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DESTRO from G.I. JOE

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