Despite the fact that Paramount and Hasbro’s G.I. JOE films have received a largely negative response from critics, they have both been substantial hits at the worldwide box office. This of course has lead to the inevitable third film in the franchise receiving the greenlight, with a release planned for late 2015/early 2016.
Although the original 2009 film G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA, was arguably one of the most poorly written and over-the-top films of the last decade, its sequel was a huge improvement. 2013’s G.I. JOE: RETALIATION took a different approach to its predecessor and swapped out its cheesy 80’s tone for a much grittier and darker atmosphere. The film also ignored/killed off the majority of the characters from the first instalment, in exchange for the brilliant additions of Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis. Although G.I. JOE: RETALITATION still had its issues I thoroughly enjoyed the revamped sequel, and Dwayne Johnson was definitely a big part of the reasoning behind that. Now Johnson has claimed that the upcoming third film is in search of a new director after Jon M. Chu has apparently decided not to return. You can read the interview below:
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…
He could still be done by then.
Johnson: Could be, right?
So do you guys have a Joe 3 director yet? Are you still looking?
Johnson: We’re still looking, yeah.
Expect a new director for the currently untitled G.I. JOE 3 to be announced sooner rather than later, as Paramount will almost certainly want to get everything in place before the end of the year. Dwayne Johnson can be seen next in Brett Ratner’s HERCULES which will hit UK theatres on 8th August later this year!
Source: Collider
