Rumors have run rampant about what fans can expect from Steven Sommers when the director brings G.I. Joe to the big screen in August 2009. The producer for the film, Brian Goldner, recently sat down with MTV to address some of those rumors.
Goldner, who is the Chief Operating Officer at Hasbro, also produced Transformers, directed by Michael Bay. Goldner's first statement about the film was "G.I. Joe has just gone into filming this past week, with a great cast and a tremendous story all based on the comics and the animation. I think fans, and fans to come, will really love what we're doing."
So, what did Goldner offer as evidence that fans of the franchise would approve of the film? Well, to begin, he confirmed that Larry Hama, who served as the primary writer for the 1980s Marvel comic adaptation would be writing the script for the movie. He also said that the film would focus more on Hama's comics than the storyline of the cartoon - something that will be of great relief to many fans. Goldner also hinted that Hama will have a cameo appearance in the movie.
Goldner also talked about the plotlines that fans can expect to see explored in the film:
We all know of the Arashikage [ninja clan], and we all know of Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow, but we need to build that story. We all know the story of Duke, and the story of the Baroness. ... We know the story of Destro, but do we really? We need to go back and tell the origin story of how you get a Scottish arms dealer, who comes forward in history - how does that happen?
And Cobra Commander. In effect, 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.
Goldner was also quick to correct rumors that the film had moved away from the patriotic tone familiar to fans of the cartoon and comic. "Duke, in our story, really represents the pre-1983 G.I. Joe," he said, linking Channing Tatum's character to the dolls of the '60s and '70s. "If those fans that grew up on the 12-inch Army man are looking for where their anchor should be, it's in Duke; he's the leader of the team and clearly American.
"But the story, just like in the comic books, was a story that took us all over the world," he continued. "That's all we were really trying to get at. And everything else that fans have heard, about the early ideas or contemplations, that's really gone. ... We're talking about a story that's going to take us all over the world, from the desert to under the water, to the mountains to cities. ... Clearly, the American military is involved, as are other forces. But at the end of the day, the force that matters is the G.I. Joe force, and the Pit, and all the things that relate to that."
Goldner also offered praise for director Steven Sommers. "...he's perfect, because if you think about his movies like The Mummy, it's the perfect action/adventure movie. If you think about what we're trying to do for G.I. Joe, really bringing back that '80s G.I. Joe from the Marvel comics - those first 155 issues are really our focus. If you think about that, you'll understand what we're trying to get at with all those characters and all the intricate relationships."
To read the full interview with Brian Goldner
G.I. Joe is currently filming and is scheduled for an August 7, 2009 release. The film stars Ray Parks, Sienna Miller, Rachel Nichols, Said Taghmaoui, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Marlon Waynes, Channing Tatum, Dennis Quiad, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Arnold Vosloo, Karolina Isela Kurkov and Christopher Eccleston.
Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum, Sienna Miller, Ray Park, Rachel Nichols, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Said Taghmaoui, Marlon Wayans, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Arnold Vosloo, Christopher Eccleston
New Movie Images from Licensing Expo 2008! Tuesday, June 10th, 2008 - Here are some sneak peeks at a few items from Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins and Robocop.
Larry Hama to Join G.I. Joe Crew! Wednesday, January 30th, 2008 - The creator of the G.I. Joe mythology will be a consultant on the new live action feature.
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