G.I. JOE's Snake Eyes as reimagined for a new era
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G.I. Joe

Release Date: August 7, 2009
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: Stephen Sommers
Screenwriter: Stuart Beattie 
Cast:  Sienna Miller (Baroness), Ray Park(Snake Eyes), Rachel Nichols(Scarlett), Marlon Wayans (Ripcord), Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Said Taghmaou
Genre: Action, Adventure

Plot Summary: The movie will be a modern telling of the "G.I. Joe vs. Cobra" storyline and its compelling characters that Hasbro created 25 years ago. The premise of this fantasy is the story of the G.I. Joe team, led by Duke, and their "fight for freedom wherever there is trouble" against the evil Cobra Commander and his Cobra force. This storyline was an instant hit with kids in the early 1980s, spawning a highly popular 3-3/4-inch action figure line, comic book collection and animated series. The G.I. Joe team will not be based in Brussels. Instead, they will be based out of the "Pit" as they were throughout the 1980s comic book series. And, in keeping with the G.I. Joe vs. Cobra fantasy, the movie will feature characters and locations from around the world. Duke, the lead character and head of the G.I. Joe team, will embody the values of bravery and heroism that the first generation of G.I. Joe figures established.

April 24, 2003... A industry source for has informed us that Hasbro, the toy manufacturer of the G.I. JOE line, may be close to closing a new deal with a major Hollywood studio for the film rights to JOE. For the last few years the rights were controlled by producer Lawrence Kasanoff (MORTAL KOMBAT) and his Threshold Entertainment production company. According to the 4Filmmakers website, a deal between Kasanoff and Warner Bros. existed. Nevertheless, the 4Filmmakers site hasn't updated its G.I. JOE page for more than two years, meaning the WB/Kasanoff partnership is old news in Hollywood.

According to our source, Hasbro has closed or is very close to closing a deal with none other than DreamWorks Pictures for a JOE movie.

In recent years the G.I. JOE franchise has seen a resurgence in pop culture. A new line of toys and a hit comic book series have returned JOE back to older fans and created a new wave of popularity with younger individuals.

While our source could not confirm with absolute certainty that DreamWorks was close to acquiring G.I. JOE rights, another source (speaking off the record) said that a new deal with a Hollywood company was imminent. Could that be DreamWorks? [Anonymous.]

September 16, 2003... Former Warner Bros. President of Production and now independent producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura is about to play toy soldier. He's joined forces with Hasbro to develop a live-action full-length G.I. JOE feature film.

While it's a positive step forward in the project's development, there is still lots more remaining before filming can start. The G.I. JOE movie needs to find a studio to plant its flag at as well as have a script commissioned and stars signed. Not even the basic premise or what characters will appear in the movie are known yet. [Taken from the Hasbro press release.]

January 29, 2004... Yesterday FilmForce published an exclusive report stating that producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura is turning Hasbro's G.I. JOE toy franchise into a live-action movie. FilmForce also reports that the script will be done by writer Michael Gordon and that while deals for both men are complete, an announcement may be published in the movie trade magazines sometime in February.

Also mentioned was that the movie will utilize characters from the popular 1980s cartoon series and not so much the modern day JOE line.

Thanks to the efforts of one of our sources, who has knowledge of the Bonaventura production, we've been told a general outline of the movie's storyline as it stands now plus which characters are in the film.

According to our source, the movie is more-or-less a prequel to the cartoon G.I. JOE series. Set before the rise of the COBRA organization, the film will show how the man the world will one day call Cobra Commander created his terrorist organization and honed it into a worldwide threat. Other COBRA characters, such as Destro and Stormshadow, are being planned to be included in the film. While Cobra Commander doesn't wear the costume he is best-known for during the bulk of the film (the blue COBRA garb complete with hood), by the conclusion of the film he will be decked out in it.

As for who is on the JOE team, look for appearances by the team's main players, such as Duke, Hawk and Snake Eyes. In fact, one of the ideas being kicked around at this stage of story development is touching upon the origin of Snake Eyes and Stormshadow, albeit in a minor way. As fans of the cartoon series know, both ninja characters have their origins tied together.

Since the screenplay is in a constant state of flow, things could change and new characters could be introduced at any time. However, the primary guideline the G.I. JOE movie creators are using is to try and be as faithful to the '80s incarnation of the team as possible.

[Name withheld.]