The upcoming live-action GI Joe spinoff film Snake Eyes will likely be pushed from its original release window in October to an undetermined 2021 date. The movie, which wrapped filming in February, marks the first major theatrical outing for the GI Joe brand since GI Joe: Retaliation released to mediocre reviews in 2013. The new film stars Crazy Rich Asians actor Henry Golding in the title role.
Snake Eyes was announced in 2018 with The Time Traveler’s Wife’s Robert Schwentke set to direct. In addition to Golding, who has discussed the intense stunt work involved in the film’s production, Snake Eyes stars Money Heist’s Úrsula Corberó, Ready or Not’s Samara Weaving, The Raid’s Iko Uwais, and Andrew Koji as Snake Eyes’ brother and nemesis, Storm Shadow. A follow-up to Snake Eyes was reportedly already in the works before the first film’s delay, though details on the sequel and how the scheduling change will affect its production are unclear.
A recent report from The Hollywood Reporter quoted Hasbro chairman and CEO Brian Goldner as saying that the company was “working out the specifics with Paramount” for the film’s release, but that the project is now targeting a date some time next year. The delay is part of a series of projected losses from Hasbro and its film and TV affiliate company Entertainment One as a result of closures during the coronavirus pandemic. The report shows an overall loss of $33.9 million over the last quarter.
The upcoming film represents a soft restart for the GI Joe film franchise, after 2009’s G.I. Joe Rise of Cobra and 2013’s G.I. Joe: Retaliation failed to earn an intended third entry. While both films succeeded at the box office, they were poorly reviewed by critics upon release. Hasbro has had a similar mix of financial success and middling critical reception with its popular Transformers film franchise, though 2018’s Bumblebee spinoff film received more favorable reviews compared to other recent additions to the franchise. With a similar side-story focus on a fan-favorite character in the silent ninja, Snake Eyes could potentially find a similar kind of success.
It remains unclear how closely this new film will connect with Rise of Cobra and Retaliation, if at all. The characters of Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow have both been recast, having previously been played by Ray Park and Brandon Soo Hoo respectively in the 2009 and 2013 films. With specifics of the pushed release date yet to be revealed, fans will have to be patient a little longer to see how this new version will stack up.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter