| G.I. Joe | |
|---|---|
 The official G.I. Joe Hasbro toy line logo, which is also used for the film releases | |
| Directed by | Stephen Sommers (1) Jon M. Chu (2) Robert Schwentke (3) |
| Based on | G.I. Joe byHasbro |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date | 2009–present |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $393–415 million |
| Box office | $715 million |
G.I. Joe is a series of Americanmilitary science fictionaction films based on the toy lineof the same name. Development for the first film began in 2003, but when the United States launched the invasion ofIraq in March 2003,Hasbro suggested adapting theTransformers instead. In 2009, the first film was released,G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. A second film,G.I. Joe: Retaliation, was released in 2013. A third film, centered onSnake Eyes titledSnake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, also serving as areboot of the series, was released in 2021, and a fourth film,G.I. Joe: Ever Vigilant, is confirmed to be in active development. Acrossover film with theTransformers is also being developed.[1][2][3]
| Film | U.S. release date | Director(s) | Screenwriter(s) | Story by | Producer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra | August 7, 2009 (2009-08-07) | Stephen Sommers | Paul Lovett, David Elliot &Stuart Beattie | Stuart Beattie, Stephen Sommers & Michael B. Gordon | Bob Ducsay,Brian Goldner &Lorenzo di Bonaventura |
| G.I. Joe: Retaliation | March 28, 2013 (2013-03-28) | Jon M. Chu | Rhett Reese &Paul Wernick | Brian Goldner & Lorenzo di Bonaventura | |
| Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins | July 23, 2021 (2021-07-23) | Robert Schwentke | Joe Shrapnel, Anna Waterhouse &Evan Spiliotopoulos | Evan Spiliotopoulos | Brian Goldner, Erik Howsam & Lorenzo di Bonaventura |
The first film in the series, released on August 7, 2009. It grossed $302 million worldwide. It was directed byStephen Sommers from a screenplay byStuart Beattie, David Elliot, and Paul Lovett and a story by Michael B. Gordon, Beattie, and Sommers.
In 1994, Larry Kasanoff and his production company,Threshold Entertainment, had held the rights to do a live-actionG.I. Joe film withWarner Bros. as the distributor. Instead they chose to concentrate their efforts on theirMortal Kombat films. As late as 1999, there had been rumors that a film from Threshold Entertainment was still a possibility, but that project was canceled.
In 2003,Lorenzo di Bonaventura was interested in making a film about advanced military technology;Hasbro'sBrian Goldner called him and suggested to base the film on theG.I. Joe toy line.[4] Goldner and Bonaventura worked together before, creating toy lines for films Bonaventura produced asCEO ofWarner Bros. Goldner and Bonaventura spent three months working out a story, and chose Michael B. Gordon as screenwriter, because they liked his script for300.[5] Bonaventura wanted to depict theorigin story of certain characters, and introduced the new character of Rex, to allow an exploration of Duke.[6] Rex's name came from Hasbro.[7] Beforehand,Don Murphy was interested in filming the property, but when theIraq War broke out, he considered the subject matter inappropriate, and chose to developTransformers (another Hasbro toy line) instead.[8] Bonaventura felt, "What [the Joes] stand for, and what Duke stands for specifically in the movie, is something that I'd like to think a worldwide audience might connect with."[6]
By February 2005, Paul Lovett and David Elliot, who wrote Bonaventura'sFour Brothers, were rewriting Gordon's draft.[9] In their script, the Rex character is corrupted and mutated into theCobra Commander, whom Destro needs to lead an army of supersoldiers.[10]Skip Woods was rewriting the script by March 2007, and he added the Alex Mann character from the BritishAction Man toy line. Bonaventura explained, "Unfortunately,our president has put us in a position internationally where it would be very difficult to release a movie calledG.I. Joe. To add one character to the mix is sort of a fun thing to do."[11] The script was leaked online by El Mayimbe ofLatino Review, who revealed Woods had dropped theCobra Organization in favor of the Naja / Ryan, a crookedCIA agent. In this draft, Scarlett is married to Action Man but still has feelings for Duke, and is killed by the Baroness. Snake Eyes speaks, but his vocal cords are slashed during the story, rendering him mute. Mayimbe suggestedStuart Beattie rewrite the script.[12] Fan response to the film following the script review was negative. Bonaventura promised with subsequent rewrites, "I'm hoping we're going to get it right this time."[13] He admitted he had problems with Cobra, concurring with an interviewer "they were probably the stupidest evil organization out there [as depicted in the cartoon]".[11] Hasbro promised to write Cobra back into the script.[14]
In August 2007,Paramount Pictures hiredStephen Sommers to direct the film after his presentation to CEOBrad Grey and production prexy Brad Weston was well received.[15] Sommers had been inspired to explore the G.I. Joe universe after visiting Hasbro's headquarters inRhode Island.[16] The project had found the momentum based on the success ofTransformers, which Bonaventura produced with Murphy.[15] Sommers partly signed on to direct because the concept reminded him ofJames Bond, and he described an underwater battle in the story as a tribute toThunderball.[17] Stuart Beattie was hired to write a new script for Sommers's film,[18] and G.I. Joe comic and filecard writerLarry Hama was hired ascreative consultant. Hama helped them change story elements that fans would have disliked and made it closer to the comics, ultimately deciding fans would enjoy the script.[19] He persuaded them to drop a comic scene at the film's end, where Snake Eyes speaks.[20] To speed up production before the2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike, John Lee Hancock,Brian Koppelman andDavid Levien also assisted in writing various scenes.[21] Goldner said their inspiration was generally Hama's comics and not the cartoon.[22] Sommers said had it not been for the rich backstory in the franchise, the film would have fallen behind schedule because of the strike.[23]
AfterVariety had reported that G.I. Joe became a Brussels-based outfit that stands for Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity,[24] there were reports of outrages over Paramount's alleged attempt to change the origin of G.I. Joe Team.[25] Hasbro responded on its G.I. Joe website claiming it was not changing what the G.I. Joe brand is about, and the name "G.I. Joe" will always be synonymous with bravery and heroism. Instead, it would be a modern telling of the "G.I. Joe vs. Cobra" storyline, based out of the "Pit" as they were throughout the 1980s comic book series.[26]
The second film in the series, released on March 28, 2013, in3D andIMAX 3D. It grossed $375 million worldwide. It was directed byJon M. Chu from a screenplay written byRhett Reese, andPaul Wernick.
For the second film, after the financially successful release ofThe Rise of Cobra, Rob Moore, the studio vice chairman ofParamount Pictures, stated in 2009 that a sequel would be developed. In January 2011, Rhett Reese andPaul Wernick, the writers ofZombieland, were hired to write the script for the sequel.[27][28] The film was originally thought to be titledG.I. Joe: Cobra Strikes,[29] which was later denied by Reese.[30]Stephen Sommers was originally going to return as director of the sequel, but Paramount Pictures announced in February 2011 thatJon Chu would direct the sequel.[31][32] In July 2011, the sequel's name was revealed to beG.I. Joe: Retaliation.[33][34] Chu would later declare that Paramount wanted areboot that also served as a sequel toThe Rise of Cobra since "a lot of people saw the first movie so we don't want to alienate that and redo the whole thing."[35]
In May 2018, Paramount announced a film centered onSnake Eyes, withEvan Spiliotopoulos hired to write the script.[36] In December,Robert Schwentke signed on as director with principal photography scheduled to take place inJapan,Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada andLos Angeles, California.[37][38]Ray Park was later reported to not reprise the role, as the film deals with the character's origin story.[39] By August 2019,Henry Golding was cast as Snake Eyes, whileAndrew Koji was set to portray Storm Shadow, replacingLee Byung-hun, who portrayed the character in previous films.[40][41] Kimani Ray Smith was hired as Stunt Coordinator on the project.[42] In September 2019,Iko Uwais entered negotiations to portrayHard Master, whileÚrsula Corberó was cast asAnastasia Cisarovna / Baroness (replacingSienna Miller, who played the character inG.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra).[43][44] James Madigan was hired as the Second-Unit Director, after previously working onG.I. Joe: Retaliation.[45] By October 2019,Samara Weaving was cast asShana O'Hara / Scarlett (replacingRachel Nichols, who previously portrayed the character inG.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra), whileTakehiro Hira,Haruka Abe andSteven Allerick were cast in an undisclosed roles.[46][47][48]
The film was scheduled for an October 23, 2020 release date,[49][50] and was delayed to July 23, 2021, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[51]
In April 2013, a thirdG.I. Joe film was announced,[52] with the studio looking at the potential for it to be released in3D format.[53][54] Chu was initially hired to return to direct the third film,[55] though the filmmaker left the project in favor of directingJem and the Holograms instead. Producer di Bonaventura expressed interest in having Johnson and Willis reprise their respective roles, while announcing a third primary role.[56] By September of the same year,Evan Daugherty was hired as screenwriter.[1] The film was initially scheduled for a 2016 release,[57][58] though this changed when di Bonaventura revealed that the studio was in search of a new director.[59]
By July 2014,Jonathan Lemkin was hired to contribute to the script, with a plot that will focus on Roadblock. Johnson signed on to return as the star of the film.[60] The story will incorporateM.A.S.K. characterMatt Trakker, and the villainous twinsTomax Paoli and Xamot Paoli.[61] In April 2015, the studio hiredD. J. Caruso as director, with Aaron Berg hired to do a re-write of the previous draft of the script.[62] In January 2017, Caruso revealed that a previous draft of the script ended with the introduction of theTransformers. This was not approved by Paramount Pictures, who as a studio were "not ready...yet".[63][64] In May, Dwayne Johnson stated that he would appear in any futureG.I. Joe film, and that he hopes to be a part of the franchise expansion.[65]
In May 2018, the film was titledG.I. Joe: Ever Vigilant, withJosh Appelbaum andAndré Nemec signed on as co-screenwriters. Johnson is again in early negotiations to reprise his role, with the plot centering around his character leading a new team of Joes. That team features Daina Janack, Dr. Adele Burkhart,Wild Bill,Barbecue,General Flagg,Doc, andKeel-Haul; the primary antagonists are Tomax and Xamot. Cobra Commander has a smaller role.[66] The film was scheduled to be released on March 27, 2020, untilSnake Eyes took precedence and was given that release date. Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the intended October 23, 2020 release ofSnake Eyes was delayed,[49][50] also delayingEver Vigilant development. In May 2021, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura revealed that there are multiple scripts for the sequel in development.[67]
In March 2013, producerLorenzo di Bonaventura announced that he would be interested in producing aG.I. Joe /Transformers crossover film.[2] By July,G.I. Joe: Retaliation directorJon M. Chu stated that he is interested in directing the movie.[68] In June 2014, di Bonaventura cast doubt on the project, while acknowledging that it is an ongoing possibility.[69] The Transformers were initially written to be introduced at the end ofG.I. Joe 3, but Paramount decided against this.[63][64] In July 2021, while stating that Paramount Pictures has been hesitant togreen-light production on the crossover, di Bonneventura declared that the project is "inevitable".[3][70][71] In July 2021, the project was once again in active development.[3] In June 2023, beginning withRise of the Beasts the two franchises began to share continuity. Producer di Bonaventura stated that in futureTransformers installments, actors from theG.I. Joe films may reprise their roles.[72] The crossover would later be announced officially atCinemaCon 2024.[73]Derek Connolly was hired to write the crossover film in June 2024.[74] Di Bonaventura announced toCollider that the crossover would be the next film.[75] in July 2025 Transformers actorAnthony Ramos revealed that the crossover is uncertain in an interview with screenrant citing the Paramount Skydance merger
In December 2015, it was reported that Hasbro and Paramount were creating a cinematic universe that would combineG.I. Joe with fellow Hasbro propertiesMicronauts,Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light,M.A.S.K., andRom.[81] In April 2016,The Hollywood Reporter stated that awriters' room was formed consisting ofMichael Chabon,Brian K. Vaughan,Nicole Perlman,Cheo Coker,John Francis Daley,Jonathan Goldstein and others.[82] DirectorD. J. Caruso said in January 2017 that a script was being written,[83] but the writers' room disbanded six months later.[84] The project has since remained in development.
In 2009 to promoteThe Rise of Cobra 2 short stop-motion films were created.[86]
A sequel toG.I. Joe: The Invasion of Cobra Island - Part 1.[87]
Released in promotion forSnake Eyes, Paramount produced a stop-motion short film, including toys of the characters of the film where they discuss the upcoming movie as a reboot/prequel. The short debuted on the studio's YouTube channel.[88]
The home video release ofSnake Eyes, included a bonus feature short that debuted in the form of an animated motion comic. The plot detailed the origins of the character's weapon, Morning Light.[89]
This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in more than two films in the series.
| Film | Crew/Detail | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composer(s) | Cinematographer | Editor(s) | Production companies | Distributing company | Running time | ||
| G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra | Alan Silvestri | Mitchell Amundsen | Jim May Bob Ducsay | Hasbro Studios Sommers Company Spyglass Entertainment di Bonaventura Pictures | Paramount Pictures | 118 min | |
| G.I. Joe: Retaliation | Henry Jackman | Stephen Windon | Jim May Roger Barton | Hasbro Studios Skydance Productions di Bonaventura Pictures | Paramount Pictures Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | 123 min | |
| Snake Eyes | Martin Todsharow | Bojan Bazelli | Stuart Levy | Skydance Entertainment One di Bonaventura Pictures | 121 min | ||
| Film | Release date | Box office revenue | Box office ranking | Budget | Reference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | International | Worldwide | All time domestic | All time worldwide | ||||
| G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra | August 7, 2009 | $150,201,498 | $152,267,519 | $302,469,017 | # | # | $175 million | [90] |
| G.I. Joe: Retaliation | March 28, 2013 | $122,523,060 | $253,217,645 | $375,740,705 | # | # | $130 million | [91] |
| Snake Eyes | July 22, 2021 | $28,264,325 | $11,800,000 | $40,064,325 | # | # | $88–110 million | [92][93] |
| Total | $300,988,883 | $417,285,164 | $718,274,047 | — | # | $393–415 million | — | |
List indicator
| ||||||||
| Film | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic | CinemaScore |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra | 33% (169 reviews)[94] | 32 (25 reviews)[95] | B+[96] |
| G.I. Joe: Retaliation | 29% (182 reviews)[97] | 41 (31 reviews)[98] | A-[99] |
| Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins | 35% (147 reviews)[100] | 43 (32 reviews)[101] | B-[102] |
In addition to the films, various comic books were presented byIDW Publishing:
crossover movie will be released in theaters in 2025 or 2026.
audience word of mouth may not be great, despite a solid rating of B+ from opening-day moviegoers, according to market research firm CinemaScore.
These two movies, which received lackluster CinemaScores of C+ and B-
