Okay, now things are getting a little weird.
A few days ago the word spread throughout a Twitter conversation that G.I. Joe: Retaliation director Jon M Chu, who was recently tapped to direct a live action Jem and the Holograms film, was going to do that film first, and push the third G.I. Joe film back. This news threw G.I. Joe fans for a loop, as news like that does, and suddenly people were certain that the third Joe film was never ever going to happen.
I tried to take a bit more measured approach.
Now, though, on a promotional tour for Hercules, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been asked about the third G.I. Joe film, and through a series of pretty odd questions and answers seems to say they’re waiting for Chu while at the same time still keeping options open for a new director:
Question: Have you guys talked about when another G.I. Joe might happen, because I know Jon Chu’s doing some other things now.
Johnson: Yeah, yeah. Well, the idea is that we would start shooting G.I. Joe in January, in the first quarter of next year. That’s the idea. Look, I love Jon, and I think he did a great job. I get it. He had to go on and do something else. By the way, maybe…
Question: He could still be done by then.
Johnson: Could be, right?
And then later…
Question: So do you guys have a G.I. Joe 3 director yet? Are you still looking?
Johnson: We’re still looking, yeah.
Yeah, I don’t particularly get it either. The interview happened with IGN.com, and the quotes from Johnson are pretty clear, especially at the end, but the interview itself seems oddly structured.
Anyway, hopefully more news on this as it comes about. I think it’s quite possible that with Chu taking the helm on Jem that perhaps a new director is being sought for the third Joe film, but I also suspect that Chu could still be done with Jem and end up back in the driver’s seat. Whatever happens, I suppose it wouldn’t be a G.I. Joe film without some measure of drama to it, right?
Stay tuned!
Just let a bunch of time pass and reboot it.
Not a bad idea.
Nope, don’t reboot it. Keep the Rock and the cast from Retaliation, add Rachel Nicols’ Scarlett, and add a subplot about finding Channing’s Duke. Hate to see it move on without Chu but the timing here is essential.
I disagree about Chu. I don’t have any faith in his story-telling ability. Retaliation was pointed in the right direction compared to Rise of Cobra but still lacked in telling a great story. I can’t stand The Rock as Roadblock. It’s like they completely ignored the cartoon they are supposed to be basing the movies on. It would have at least been a nice nod if they had thrown in a couple of lines for him to rhyme. But, since you’ve started with him it would be better to keep him. Not to mention they sort of hung the franchise on him in Retaliation. Bringing back Scarlett is a must to tie the franchise together. She was the best part of ROC. Have to bring back Baroness and Destro as well. Firefly has to lose the ridiculous acsent, and need to introduce a few new characters like Shipwreck, Major Bludd, and Beachhead. Just my 2 cents.
At this point they have strayed so far from what we all knew about GI Joe in its heyday, I almost don’t want to even see a 3rd movie in this line. What this line really needs is a reboot but then we are talking about a 3rd reboot b/c isn’t that what Retaliation was supposed to be? The impatience in me wants to see a 3rd movie and new toy line but the 8 year old in 1987 is wondering how they can call these movies GI Joe! No matter what happens, I want to see a director for sure. A friend of mine and I were talking about him the other day, he’s great when it comes to fight scenes, explosions, and the like but his story telling fails. All sizzle, no steak. Sorry, got on a bit of a soapbox but I could go on and on and on.