G.I. Joe Movie Update

I thought it might be time for an update on director Stephen Sommers’ G.I. Joe movie, since it has been shooting for a couple of weeks now.

There are a few things that have been floating around, including a couple of photos of Channing Tatum as Duke (although there isn’t much to them), but they do givesa sense of what he looks like in the film. Also, a Hasbro exec and movie producer gave some movie detail tidbits you should check out below.

First up are a set of photos featuring Tatum as Duke and Sienna Miller as the Baroness. She doesn’t look all that Baronessy (is that a word?), bit it does look like Tatum may be pulling off the Duke look pretty well. I like the shot of him on the bike, even though he’s checking his make-up. You can see it over at JFX Online via MovieWeb. Does the photo of Miller reveal a crucial plot point? Does this funeral scene explain why she becomes the Baroness?

After the jump, read what the producer had to say plus former G.I. Joe comic book writer Larry Hama’s involvement with the film!

Hasbro COO and G.I. Joe and Transformers executive producer Brian Goldner recently filled MTV in on the film, giving us a good look at some plot details, including that the production team is basing the film more on the comics than the TV show. With Larry Hama onboard helping with the script, it makes sense that they’re focusing on the comics.

Goldner revealed that:

“…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.”

He also mentioned the movie will explore the origins of Destro and the rest of the teams, both good and bad.

What about the fan outrage that American patriotism will be toned down? Goldner explains that the movie takes place all over the world, and focuses on a more “1970s” version of Duke, but a 1980s Marvel Comics run of G.I. Joe, written largely by Hama. We’ll see what happens next, since he’s purposely vague about it. All I can say is, don’t make the mistake the Superman Returns team did, by dropping “American way” from Perry White’s monologue. There was a backlash, believe it of not.

Of course there will be action figures, and I’m hoping they kick butt. Maybe I’ll grab some of them plus some Transformers 2 action figures, and my nephew and I will re-create all the G.I. Joe vs. Transformers battles I waged as a kid. The movie opens in 2009 and will be distributed by Paramount Pictures, along with Transformers 2. WOW, I can’t wait; it’s 1984 all over again!

Sources: MTV, JFX Online via MovieWeb

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