We all discovered yesterday thanks to the wonders of the Alberta Film Ratings site that there is a four minute featurette for G.I. Joe: Retaliation that has been approved and processed for release. However, we didn’t know when and where we might see this.
Friend of the site, USA Today writer, and certified Geekologist Brian Truitt linked up an article from USA Today, talking about some big name films and the delays they’ve suffered from 2012 – 2013. G.I. Joe: Retaliation wasn’t the only one in that category. But buried in the story about these films moving was this little nugget of information:
“But Moore has a different marketing strategy this time: A four-minute scene in 3-D that went over well when it was unveiled in Asia (to take advantage of popular South Korean actor Lee Byung-hun) will premiere in theaters showing Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters on Jan. 25.”
Well, how about that? We’ve heard the feedback from the overseas reveal as well as the footage shown at BNAT 14, and it sounds like the rest of us will be able to see this footage on January 25th. From all indications, the footage is pulled from the Ninja mountain battle. Pretty cool. Thanks to Brian Truitt and thanks to Susan Wloszczya from USA Today for revealing that little tidbit.
I think it might just be fair to say that the G.I. Joe: Retaliation promotional train is officially back on track! With an interview last night on Entertainment Tonight, Dwayne Johnson gets the film back in the spotlight, and now we have a new trailer hitting today at 12:00pm noon. Along with this, both Jon Chu and Lee Byung-hun traveled to Hong Kong’s CineAsia 2012 to show off some G.I. Joe: Retaliation footage as well as the latest trailer.
From the sounds of the description from the Hollywood Reporter, the footage is the same that was shown at BNAT 14. The article, goes on to say:
“While the teaser of the original 2D G.I. Joe: Retaliation, originally slated for a June 2012 release, concentrated more on the story of its protagonists being excommunicated by the US government, the new trailer of the converted 3D version (which debuts in the U.S. on March 29, 2013) plays up its staggering visuals and action scenes.
Chu, who appeared on stage with Lee at the presentation at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, described the making of Retaliation as “really insane.” Pointing to his actor – whose role of Storm Shadow was “expanded” in the sequel, according to Paramount Pictures International president Mark Viane – Chu said: “His abs in 3D look amazing.”
The trailer was followed by the screening of a fight sequence featuring Lee, and set in a Himalayas monastery.”
So, ladies, you might not see as much Channing Tatum in the sequel as you did in the Rise of Cobra, but hey! Lee Byung-hun abs in 3D! That’s cool, too, right?
Well, he refers to it, though he admits up front that there is no real clear indication as to exactly how the character survived. At Soompi.com, several quotes from the Korean actor reveal that Storm Shadow does indeed apparently return from the dead in the sequel, though Lee Byung-Hun admits the way he does it isn’t necessarily clearly explained.
“In the film there is no separate explanation. However, there is a hint as to how ‘Storm Shadow’ resurrects.” The star added, “I really like the role of Storm Shadow. In order to act him out, I studied his character history and he was the most charming character of G.I. Joe. In the film there is a division between the Cobra army and Joes, however Storm Shadow does not really belong to either group. I liked the fact that the character was a lonely fighter.”
So, according to the actor himself, there is no real “separate explanation” but a hint as to how the character resurrects. Something tells me the hint lies within the clear, water-filled tubes, but I guess we will find out June 29th!
While there isn’t any new footage revealed that I can tell in this new Japanese TV spot for G.I. Joe: Retaliation, there is a short intro by Lee Byung-Hun as well as a short closing by Bruce Willis. It almost looks like there’s a scene of Cobra Commander, Firefly, and President Zartan in the middle that might be new, but I’m not certain on that.
Check it out on YouTube, or hit up the embedded player below. Big thanks to skinny from Serpentors Lair for the heads up!
We’ve seen most of the character-themed posters for the United States at this point, but with Lee Byung-Hun such a popular actor over in Korea, it only made sense for him to get a poster that focused on him for that region.
This actually brings up a really good point, in my opinion, with the casting of G.I. Joe: Retaliation. You’ve got Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to appeal to the young movie goers… you’ve got Bruce Willis drawing in the older action movie fans. And you’ve got Lee Byung-Hun who continues his rampage of popularity in Korea. That’s a lot of big audiences that this cast is capturing. Pretty smart moves from a marketing stand point.
Good old stand by Stark Industries came up with the image, you can check it out below.
This poster goes along with a previously released poster, too, originally revealed right here on GeneralsJoes:
