The Crazy Rich Asians star debuts as one of the most popular G.I.
Joe characters, who will (fingers crossed) launch a new slate of movies.
It’s hard to make a large-scale summer action movie when your main character doesn’t speak.
Henry Golding brandishes the sword Morning Light in ‘Snake Eyes.'.Niko Tavernise/Paramount Pictures
Snake Eyes, the code name for the belovedG.I.
Joecharacter, is a masked living weapon with unparalleled skill in wielding the katana blade.
As shown in EW’s exclusive first-look photos,Henry Goldingstars as the lead ofSnake Eyes: G.I.
Henry Golding’s Snake Eyes in the ‘G.I. Joe Origins’ movie.Ed Araquel/Paramount Pictures
Joe Origins, which delves into the beginnings of this mysterious figure.
“It allows him to talk, which was very helpful.”
But you just don’t hide the silver-screen good looks of the 34-year-oldCrazy Rich Asiansstar behind a feature-less mask.
Andrew Koji as Storm Shadow in ‘Snake Eyes.'.Ed Araquel/Paramount Pictures
Di Bonaventura saysSnake Eyeswill “answer some questions” left lingering in the minds ofG.I.
Joefans after all these years.
Like, what is Snake’s real name?
Haruka Abe as Akiko in ‘Snake Eyes.'.Niko Tavernise/Paramount Pictures
Such details were once considered “classified” in the canon of the series.
“You’ll learn who he is, where he came from,” the producer promises.
“Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes, their brotherhood/relationship is one of the most famous in theG.I.
Henry Golding behind the scenes of ‘Snake Eyes.'.Ed Araquel/Paramount Pictures
Joelore,” Golding says.
“They have such an interesting, forever-wavering relationship of hate and love.
They love each other as brothers because they’ve been through the same thing.”
Samara Weaving as Scarlett in ‘Snake Eyes.'.Niko Tavernise/Paramount Pictures
“A lot of it is an internal search to find the balance in his life.
That’s the gravity of the movie.
There’s forces pulling him in two different directions, good and bad.”
Úrsula Corberó as The Baroness in ‘Snake Eyes.'.Niko Tavernise/Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures made a firm commitment to expand the universe ofG.I.
Joe: The Rise of Cobraand 2013’sG.I.
The studio even establisheda writers room in 2016to workshop ideas for various Hasbro properties.
However, di Bonaventura says that effort “really didn’t generate much for us.”
“My opinion of that room was that never really worked very well, unfortunately.
It was a good idea,” he remarks.
She is now played inSnake Eyesby actress Ursula Corbero.
“We never developed it, but we did debate,” di Bonaventura says.
“She’s such a deliciously evil character.
“Evan Spiliotopoulos’ script for a Snake origins movie just came along at the right time.
(Anna Waterhouse and Joe Shrapnel developed the screenplay with Spiliotopoulos.)
“If they’re not athletic, good luck.
Joefranchise which hasn’t been done” something that was less fantasy and more grounded in reality.
Golding did the work.
That wasn’t an issue.
“Myself and Robert, we went for lunch and I was like, ‘It has to be different.
It has to feel fresh,'” he recalls.
“We had one green screen set and the rest was all practical,” Golding says.
“I think the film really has this link with martial arts.”
If all goes as planned,Snake Eyeswill be a launching pad for a new era ofG.I.
Part of that means teeing up a larger world.
Actress Rachel Nichols once played the character in theRise of Cobrafilm.
“Both Cobra and G.I.
It does not start as a G.I.
It starts as an Arashikage movie, a Snake Eyes character arc.
There is a gradual reveal that there’s a larger world here.”
It gives so much more creative control over where this universe is going.
I’m crazy excited to see what we do next.”
First things first, let’s see how this post-vaccine summer movie season plays out.
