There’s no reason why G.I. Joe, as a franchise, should have failed.
The first film starred award-winning Dennis Quad and Channing Tatum, but was critically and commercially panned for being… a little bit rubbish.
The second film upped the cast and the production budget, including Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Bruce Willis and some of the biggest explosive set-pieces this side of a Michael Bay film.
Unfortunately, it again was critically and commercially panned for being… a little bit rubbish.
But there’s no reason why a franchise steeped in childhood nostalgia and involving good-looking people, cool gadgets and ‘splosions should ever fail, which is why Paramount Pictures and Hasbro has recruited Mark Wahlberg.
Wahlberg is a studio favourite, after revamping the Transformers franchise with Age of Extinction. He will reportedly play the main role of Conrad S. Hauser, also known as Duke.
The actor was reportedly on top of producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura’s casting list since 2009’s first reboot, but could never sign on to star in the film due to production difficulties.
The new G.I. Joe film is rumoured to be named Ever Vigilant.
The Wahlberg reboot won’t be the only new addition to the world of G.I. Joe, first we’ll see an origin film called Snake Eyes – who is the Joe’s ninja character – played by Henry Golding.
“The film will kick off an entirely new timeline, franchise and G.I. Joe Universe,” says Golding.
And we bet there will be a few new toys thrown in there, too.
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