G.I. Joe: Retaliation is a 2013 American military science fiction film based on characters from Hasbro's G.I. Joe toy line. It is the second installment in the G.I. Joe film series and a sequel to G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009). Directed by Jon M. Chu, and written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the film features an ensemble cast starring Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis, D. J. Cotrona, Lee Byung-hun, Adrianne Palicki, Ray Park, Jonathan Pryce, Ray Stevenson, and Channing Tatum. The story sees the G.I. Joes framed, attacked, and left for dead by the US government—influenced by Zartan who is impersonating the president—leaving the surviving members to fight back against Cobra.
Originally slated for release in June 2012, the film was delayed to convert to 3D and boost interest in international markets. G.I. Joe: Retaliation was released in the United States on March 28, 2013, by Paramount Pictures. Like the first film, it received generally unfavorable reviews from critics, although it was considered an improvement over its predecessor, and it grossed $375.7 million worldwide against a budget of $130–155 million.
Plot
Special Forces team commander Duke leads the G.I. Joe Team to the Korean Demilitarized Zone to rescue a North Korean defector. They are then assigned to retrieve nuclear warheads from Pakistan following the death of its President during a civil war. Zartan, still impersonating the President of the United States, secretly orders an airstrike that kills Duke and most of the Joes. Heavy machine gunner Roadblock, sniper Flint, and covert operator Lady Jaye survive by diving into a well. The following day, Zartan denounces the Joes as traitors for allegedly attempting to steal the nuclear weapons they had been ordered to retrieve, and announces that COBRA, which he authorised to conduct the airstrike, will replace the Joes as the US' premier special operations force.
Roadblock, Flint, and Lady Jaye secretly return to the United States and establish a Base of Operations in a gym in Roadblock's old neighbourhood. Determined to avenge their fallen comrades, they investigate their betrayal. Lady Jaye deduces that someone is impersonating the President after noticing changes in his speech patterns. Seeking further intelligence, they contact General Joseph Colton, the original G.I. Joe, who directs them towards the President's Chief of Staff. Meanwhile, Storm Shadow, who survived the destruction of Cobra's Arctic base, and demolitions expert Firefly rescue Cobra Commander from an underground maximum-security prison in Germany, leaving Destro behind. Storm Shadow is injured and retreats to a temple in the Himalayas to recover. The Blind Master, leader of the Arashikage Clan, sends Snake Eyes and his apprentice Jinx to capture Storm Shadow and bring him to justice for the murder of his uncle, the Hard Master.
At a presidential fundraiser, Lady Jaye steals a sample of the President's DNA, confirming that he is Zartan. The trio escapes after confronting Firefly and Zandar, the head of the U.S. Secret Service's Presidential Detail and a Cobra member. Meanwhile, Snake Eyes and Jinx capture Storm Shadow after battling his loyal ninjas and take him to Tokyo. Storm Shadow insists that he did not kill the Hard Master and proves it by fighting Snake Eyes with the weapon used in the murder; the weapon breaks because it is not made of Arashikage steel. The Blind Master concludes that Zartan murdered the Hard Master and framed Storm Shadow, who had joined Cobra to destroy it from within. Exonerated, Storm Shadow joins Snake Eyes and Jinx in helping the Joes stop Cobra and avenge the Hard Master.
Zartan invites the world's leaders to a summit at Fort Sumter, where he launches the entire US nuclear arsenal, forcing the other nuclear powers to launch theirs in response. He then activates his weapons' self-destruct systems before they reach their targets. The other leaders likewise destroy their nuclear arsenals to protect their populations. Zartan declares a nuclear-free world and unveils Project Zeus, orbital kinetic bombardment weapons designed for Cobra. To demonstrate their power, he destroys Central London and activates the remaining weapons, offering to disarm them if the leaders submit to Cobra. Storm Shadow turns against Cobra Commander and exposes Cobra's deception to the assembled leaders. Colton kills Zandar and rescues the real President with Lady Jaye, while Storm Shadow kills Zartan. As Snake Eyes, Jinx, and Flint fight Cobra's soldiers, Cobra Commander orders Firefly to defend the launch device before escaping by helicopter. Roadblock defeats Firefly and destroys the orbital weapons. Storm Shadow departs after avenging his uncle.
At a White House ceremony, the real President addresses the nation and commemorates the fallen Joes. Colton presents awards to Roadblock, Snake Eyes, Jinx, Flint, and Lady Jaye, and gives Roadblock an M1911 pistol formerly belonging to General George S. Patton, to use when they find Cobra Commander. Roadblock raises the weapon and fires a single shot in honour of his fallen comrades, vowing to avenge them.
Cast
Dwayne Johnson as Marvin F. Hinton / Roadblock:A heavy machine gunner and senior NCO of the G.I. Joe. Bruce Willis as General Joe Colton:A retired General and the founder and leader of the G.I. Joe team. D. J. Cotrona as Dashiell R. Faireborn / Flint:A sniper and parkour expert of the G.I. Joe. Channing Tatum as Conrad S. Hauser / Duke:An intelligence and infantry specialist and a field commander of the G.I. Joe team. Arnold Vosloo as Zartan:A disguise expert of Cobra who kidnaps and replaces the President in the last film. Jonathan Pryce as President of the United States Lee Byung-hun as Thomas Arashikage / Storm Shadow:A member of Cobra and Snake Eyes's rival. Both were close members of the Arashikage ninja clan. He survived his encounter with Snake Eyes in the last film. Brandon Soo Hoo (through archive footage from The Rise of Cobra) and Nathan Takashige as Young Storm Shadow Ray Park as Snake Eyes:A mysterious ninja commando of the G.I. Joe who took a vow of silence, a close member of the Arashikage ninja clan, and Storm Shadow's rival. Leo Howard as Young Snake Eyes Elodie Yung as Kim Arashikage / Jinx:A member of the Arashikage trained by the Blind Master, Snake Eyes' apprentice and Storm Shadow's cousin. Ray Stevenson as Firefly:An ex-G.I. Joe turned Cobra Demolitions expert. Adrianne Palicki as Jaye Burnett / Lady Jaye:A covert operator of the G.I. Joe. Luke Bracey as Cobra Commander:The leader of the terrorist organization Cobra Command. Robert Baker (uncredited) as the voice of Cobra Commander Walton Goggins as Warden Nigel James:A warden of the Einsargen Subterranean Prison in Germany. Joseph Mazzello as Morris L. Sanderson / Mouse:A sniper of the G.I. Joe. RZA as Blind Master:The Arashikage's blind leader. Matt Gerald as Zandar:A member of Cobra and the head of the detail for Zartan disguised as the President of the United States. Joe Chrest as the Chief of Staff James Carville as Himself Ryan Hansen as Robert W. Graves / Grunt:One of the G.I. Joe members. DeRay Davis as 'Stoop' Robert Catrini as Israeli Prime Minister Ilia Volok as President of Russia Marcelo Tubert as President of France James Lew as President of China Ajay Mehta as Prime Minister of India Jim Palmer as Lance J. Steinberg / Clutch:One of the G.I. Joe members.
Production
Development
After the financially successful release of The Rise of Cobra, Rob Moore, the studio vice chairman of Paramount Pictures, stated in 2009 that a sequel would be developed. In January 2011, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the writers of Zombieland, were hired to write the script. The movie was originally thought to be titled G.I. Joe: Cobra Strikes, which was later denied by Reese. Stephen Sommers was originally going to return as director of the sequel, but Paramount Pictures announced in February 2011 that Jon Chu would direct the sequel. In July 2011, the sequel's name was revealed to be G.I. Joe: Retaliation.JJ Abrams Moving Toward Helming 'Star Trek 2,' But 'G.I. Joe' Sequel Will Get His June 29, 2012 Release Slot Deadline Hollywood, July 2, 2011 Chu would later declare that Paramount wanted a reboot that also served as a sequel to The Rise of Cobra since "a lot of people saw the first movie so we don't want to alienate that and redo the whole thing."
Casting
In January 2011, it was confirmed that Lee Byung-hun would reprise his role as Storm Shadow in the sequel. Channing Tatum and Ray Park also returned, as Duke and Snake Eyes, respectively. Rachel Nichols, the actress who played Scarlett in the first film, stated that most cast members would not be returning, except for the three aforementioned actors. In March 2011, Sienna Miller stated that she would not be returning for a sequel. Joseph Gordon-Levitt also confirmed that he would not be returning as Cobra Commander in the sequel because he was too busy with The Dark Knight Rises.
In June 2011, Dwayne Johnson was cast as Roadblock, D. J. Cotrona and RZA were cast as Flint and Blind Master, respectively, while Élodie Yung was in talks for the role of Jinx. In July 2011, Adrianne Palicki was confirmed for the lead female role of Lady Jaye, and Ray Stevenson was confirmed to portray the villain Firefly. Arnold Vosloo also confirmed that he would reprise his role of Zartan. Jonathan Pryce will reprise his role as the President of the United States. Joseph Mazzello was confirmed to play Mouse. In August 2011, Walton Goggins was added as Warden Nigel James, and it was confirmed that Bruce Willis was cast to star in the film as the original G.I. Joe. The character of Joe Colton was a replacement for fan-favorite Joe character Sgt. Slaughter. Sgt. Slaughter stated that he "was originally supposed to be the part of Bruce Willis' [as] Sgt. Slaughter, but because we had a conflict in toy companies, Hasbro and Mattel, I wasn't able to do it. It's one of those things, Rock (Dwayne Johnson) doesn't have a contract so he can do what he wants to do and he's been very successful".
In September, a casting call sheet leaked to the Internet revealed that Cobra Commander would appear in the sequel, though it was unknown who would play the character. Chu said that fans would get a glimpse of Destro in the film, but Christopher Eccleston would not reprise his role in the sequel. On May 1, 2012, it was confirmed by Jon Chu that G.I. Joe: Retaliations Cobra Commander is Rex Lewis, the same character that Joseph Gordon-Levitt played in The Rise of Cobra.
Filming
Principal photography began in August 2011 in Louisiana. The battle on the Himalayas was shot in the south vertical assembly building at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility, that had been fitted with a green screen wall at a very steep angle with a lot of rigging above to swing the stunt people through. Fort Pike in Louisiana stands in for Fort Sumter in South Carolina as the site of the climactic summit meeting of the leaders of nuclear-armed countries.
Fatality
On November 22, 2011, a crew member, Mike Huber, died in an accident at a New Orleans warehouse used as a soundstage for the film. Crew members were changing out a set, and the scissor lift Huber was operating fell on him. OSHA assessed Paramount for a $21,000 penalty, some five years later the penalty was still being contested.
Visual effects