This RUMOR is coming to us by way of First Showing, who heard it from Latino Review, who heard it on the message boards for producer Don Murphy (Transformers). The rumor being whispered down the links is that Stephen Sommers (The Mummy), director of the upcoming G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra was fired from post-production on the film by Paramount, after a test screening of G.I. Joe allegedly resulted in the lowest scores in the studio’s history!
Again, as is being repeatedly stressed: NONE OF THIS INFO HAS BEEN VERIFIED. All could be well with Sommers and G.I. Joe or the situation could be in shambles. What I will do is give you some quick background on the issue and let you draw your own conclusions from there.
Here’s what was originally said on the Don Murphy message boards:
“After a test screening wherein the film tested the lowest score ever from an audience in the history of Paramount, the executive who pushed for the movie Brad Weston had Stephen Sommers, the super hack director of the film fired. Removed. Locked out of the editing room.”
That same “insider” then went on to break down the story in full. I won’t take the time do reiterate the whole thing for you but here’s a bit more you should know:
“NONE of this needed to happen, except someone who did not know the mythology, [Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura] was in charge of the film and never contradicted Sommers on anything. Lorenzo, so you know, was Chairman of Warners and had GI JOE under option there (not as a producer) for SEVEN years and he refused to greenlight the film, stating that because he grew up in Italy he had no knowledge of it. If you Google enough, at one point you will see he wanted the film to be about an action hero named MANN (Action Man, get it) and he clearly had no clue what the GI Joe world really was.”
So what this basically seems to boil down to, according to this “inside source,” is that G.I. Joe was placed in the hands of an inept producer, who placed it in the hands of inept director, which resulted in a crappy movie. Allegedly. Of course there is more to the story than that, which you can read up on by going here.
Now, since this rumor hit the Web, Latino Review has managed to get in contact with Lorenzo di Bonaventura, and the producer has been quick to shoot down these G.I. Joe rumors as being totally false:
Lorenzo: Its very unfair to Steve, its completely untrue he was never asked to leave or been fired or any of that. That’s ridiculous. The movie tested very well.
[Latino Review]: So what really happened in the editing room?
Lorenzo: Nothing that doesn’t happen on every other movie, which is that you constantly work and work and work and you make it better and better. We had a delay on visual effects so we waited a long time to finish the movie but that’s the only thing. I don’t really know why that would be interpreting it negatively but I guess it was.
So, according to Bonaventura all is well with Paramount, director Stephen Sommers and G.I. Joe. Of course, in these kinds of situations (and this being Hollywood and all), it’s hard to tell who is being real, who is doing spin-control and who might be just another internet rumor-starter looking to stir up some controversy. No way to say for sure at this point. According George Roush over at Latino Review, his sources collaborate Bonaventura’s claims that the G.I. Joe movie has tested well.
Guess we’ll be able to clear this rumor up for good once G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra hits theaters on August 7, 2009.
In the meantime, you’ve seen the G.I. Joe trailers and TV spots – do you think there could be any truth to this rumor?
Sources: Latino Review, First Showing & Don Murphy Message Boards
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I’ve heard this rumor before, except the movie was Punisher Warzone… I would believe it since this movie looks like complete garbage…
I would fire him based on those trailers alone. Oh, and that clip.
if this movie has negative reviews which im near positive it will the box office will be horrible. Im thinking under 60 million
As someone who wants this movie to do well, I’m hoping these rumors are false.
I heard that this has already been proven to be false on Latino Review.
i just really want a shoot ‘em up with some explosions with my favorite characters from the cartoon when i was a kid.
it could even be set in the 80′s with maybe a couple cool vehicles.
i already don’t dig the idea i’v seen of super suits and jumping through buses.
The Super Suits seem too much like a rip off of Master Chiefs uniform to me.
I’d love for this movie do well but I have a feeling it will tank.
They hired him first so they got what they deserved as did Fox with Terminator. Dummies pissing money away trying to tap into the same supposedly all important demo, the big spending??, Scion driving, axe body spray wearing, $25.00 watch wearing, dummies who think a pair of elegant dress shoes are vintage Nike Jordans painted by some ex con grafiti artist.
In the words of Fred G. Sanford
D-U-M-M-I-E-S !!!!
what’s the deal with $25 watches? mine was $25, and it has a flashlight with a velcro wrist band. is that so wrong?
If this is speculation and rumor why even waste time reporting it until it is confirmed?
this is the man that Gave up Deep Rising.
Yah, I am still wearing the cheapo Timex I bought in the PX of Fort Benning, lol, what’s wrong with it? It still runs perfect. “Takes a licking and keeps on ticking.” haha
Timex is a great watch with a great deal of history. I should have said the fake rhinestone encrusted Canal street Bling tasteful hiphop watches. As long as you don’t wear Axe Body Spray!!
I will take it as a rumor for now and we shall see.
I can only see this movie tank since it’s first trailer…. every trailer after that just further solidifies my speculation. This rumor is only going to add to that, like the acceleration suits, this film is accelerating every day towards the junk yard of the world!!!!!
You know this movie will be crap when they add stuff like these super suits there wearing. And that sucks because I grew up with G.I. Joe. I was even popular for awhile when I was the first kid to have the original blue cobra foot soldier. LOL!
Has noone seen Sigma SIx? The supersuits were used from the show. And the script uses the same elements from that GI Joe version. Do I like it? It works within the tone SOmmers and Stuart Beattie are goin for. It has grown on me.
Ill be honest, not even a fan of GI joe, but sommers makes fun films, ill see it for sure
The pics of Cobra Commander alone have got me thinking this movie will tank….. they should have went with the hooded version instead of the look they did go with…..
This fall on NBC,,,
^
Donald Trump’s G.I.Joe-Apprentice. ^
your fired Sommers,,,
^
“Deep Rising” was actually real good!
Seeing a lot of hate for the film before it comes out. I gave Dragonball a chance and look how it…..opps, bad example.
im gonna give this one a whirl, just not sure what we’ll get from this one. i just think G.I. Joe didn’t need all the special effects outside of the blue/red shots from their rifles and some kick ass explosions