Well, things are certainly moving forward behind-the-scenes for the upcoming G. I. Joe live action movie; Snake Eyes. It was only a couple of days ago that we broke the news regarding the potential title of the movie.
Speaking exclusively to Discussing Film, screenwriter Evan Spiliotopoulos (Beauty and the Beast, The Nutty Professor) stated today that the upcoming movie will hark back to the Bruce Lee era.
This interview not only confirmed Evan Spiliotopoulos involvement as the screenwriter but also the look & feel of the movie.
“I’m going to be very coy” stated Mr. Spiliotopoulos. “But I’ll say this: our vision is a Hong Kong movie of the 70s directed by Akira Kurosawa. I wish I could get into the story but that’s the idea. The idea is to go back to the rough and tumble, you know… a Bruce Lee movie but directed by one of the greatest Japanese directors of all time.”
It seems as though the script is indeed ready and it’s just a matter of time until we hear more news regarding the principal photography.
Snake Eyes is slated to release on March 27th, 2020.
You can check out the full interview, after the jump.
- Evan Spiliotopoulos G I Joe Snake Eyes
News Post: Snake Eyes Live Action Movie To Follow The Footsteps Of Bruce Lee Era
It's a fairly promising idea. It lets audiences feel G.I. Joe is being looked at from a fresh perspective. It could still be consistent with the G.I. Joe mythos we know. I don't remember when Snake-Eyes got his ninja training in the comics. Was it before or after the accident? If the movie works, it gives a good entry point into the larger G.I. Joe mythos, with one character already being developed before we get to the rest of the team.
This writer has 2 decades of experience writing almost nothing but Disney direct-to-video cartoons and sequels. His significant live-action writing is just the Hercules with the Rock, Huntsman 2 and the live-action Beauty and the Beast. It's probably not the worst background for adapting an action/adventure cartoon and comic into a live-action movie. I'd rather someone be coming from a cartoon background so that hopefully they understand that G.I. Joe is supposed to be more like a comic book than a gritty, realistic spy thriller. It seems like he's a professional at least.
This writer has 2 decades of experience writing almost nothing but Disney direct-to-video cartoons and sequels. His significant live-action writing is just the Hercules with the Rock, Huntsman 2 and the live-action Beauty and the Beast. It's probably not the worst background for adapting an action/adventure cartoon and comic into a live-action movie. I'd rather someone be coming from a cartoon background so that hopefully they understand that G.I. Joe is supposed to be more like a comic book than a gritty, realistic spy thriller. It seems like he's a professional at least.
Kurosawa's golden years predates the Bruce Lee era. But I think the screenwriter meant that it'll be a Bruce Lee Martial Arts movie but directed with a vision for a clear story evoking lots of emotions. It could work really well if executed correctly.
For some reason, it has me thinking of the flash back scenes from Rise of Cobra more than the story of an LRRP unit in southeast Asia.
Rather strange, sounds like they're looking for Chinese investors.
Kurosawa Japanese style films and Hong Kong Chinese cinema, directors and actors aren't the same thing. Moreover Ninja's are Japanese not Chinese.
At best, they may glance into Snake-Eyes being a Vietnam veteran and may take GI Joe back into that pulp fantasy combination with the Cold War era of the early 80's. But 1970's?! I don't see a cliche training to vengeful Snake-Eyes battling thugs on the streets of Hong Kong or whatever, nor do I really want to see a loose remake of "Enter the Dragon"(*which 1995's Mortal Kombat film already basically did). A whole movie focusing on an origin tale, would be like sitting through a 2 hour version of what was shown in ROC and Retaliation,lol.
The lack of mention of Cobra is also worrying.
The timeline is as follows:
Vietnam service
Family tragedy
Joining the Arashikage "family business"
several years in the Arashikage
Death of the Hard Master
Storm Shadow disappears
Dispersal of the Arashikage
Six years after Hawk meets Snake Eyes at the airport Hawk and Stalker recruit him.
Two years ago my friend who is very high up in the Hollywood film industry told me he heard a rumor that Tom Wu (Marco polo Netflix) was already cast as Snake Eyes in the next gi joe movie. I thought it strange then because Snake eyes is not Asian but could make sense now.
No real surprise here though.
Here is a quote from Di Bonaventura shortly after Retaliation:
I just hope every joe isn't a ninja
Keep reading: Snake Eyes Live Action Movie To Follow The Footsteps Of Bruce Lee Era - Page 2
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