Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins star Andrew Koji, who plays the highly skilled ninja Storm Shadow, apparently disliked the previous two films in the franchise for being mediocre action flicks, though he hopes to subvert that with his performance. The beloved 1980s toy line and TV cartoon did not inspire the box office blockbusters Paramount hoped it would. 2009's G.I. Joe Rise of the Cobra, starring Channing Tatum, and 2013's G.I. Joe: Retaliation, starring Dwayne Johnson, both underperformed critically. In an effort to reinvigorate the franchise, Paramount decide to reboot the film series with Snake Eyes, a prequel that will explore the origins of the titular G.I. Joe team member who becomes a silent and mysterious professional.
The film, which stars Crazy Rich Asians lead Henry Golding as Snake Eyes and Warrior star Koji as his blood brother, Storm Shadow, began filming in Vancouver, Canada in 2019 and wrapped in February 2020 in Japan. Luckily for the production, they were able to finish just ahead of the coronavirus pandemic. Unluckily for the production, the silent death of cinemas across the globe forced Paramount to delay the release a full year from October 23, 2020, to October 22, 2021.
Speaking to Collider, Koji admitted that he did not like the previous G.I. Joe films, but explained his optimism regarding a different Snake Eyes. The film will be Koji's first big-budget Hollywood production, and so he was wary to take a role that he didn't love. Koji said, “I thought about playing that character [Storm Shadow] because I didn’t like the first two films. I can say that. I’m allowed to not like a film. So, I was hesitant, at first, to even accept that." Koji didn't want to portray Storm Shadow as just "a guy with a six-pack," hoping to make him into a more real, flawed person. Additionally, Storm Shadow, who is half-Japanese and half-American canonically, has previously been played by white actors. Koji, who is himself half-Japanese and half-English, was keen to give a more culturally accurate texture to the character, and by applying the experience and confidence he gained from performing in Warrior, he was able to work through his concerns with director Robert Schwentke. Check out his full remarks below:
“So, when I spoke with the director [Robert Schwentke] about that I said, ‘If I’m gonna play him, I have to do my research into Japanese culture and embrace that.’ There was an opportunity for me to do a performance in that kind of film for the next generation. My time in this business might end in a few years but a kid growing up might be able to watch that film and see a more realistic, grounded portrayal and feel like they can act and they can do this. Even if it’s in ninja form, they can still bring their own humanity to it. So, it was quite a deep thing for me, just because I had a lot of reservations about it, at first, but then they allowed me to do that. I’ve gotta give credit to those guys but that was all because of the skill I got from Warrior.”
Storm Shadow, whose real name is Thomas Arashikage, is a deadly assassin who trained with his family ninja clan alongside Snake Eyes in Japan. Japanese martial arts and culture are thus quite vital to both characters, and Golding says that the film is admirably woven with cultural detail, owing in part to having actually shot in Japan. Variously acting as an ally of G.I. Joe and a Cobra Command operative, Storm Shadow is either Snake Eyes' greatest friend or most bitter enemy. There's a lot to unpack with such a man, and Koji seems eager to do just that.
Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins hopes to be more than just eye candy, owing in no small part to the effort by the production team and stars, including Koji. After seeing a cut of the film, Golding said that it was insane, far from a cookie-cutter action flick. Evidently, it's more of a martial arts film than an action film and is inspired by Japanese cinema, including samurai period pieces by the likes of Akira Kurosawa. Koji is apparently very proud of the atypical G.I. Joe film that the team was able to produce. Here's hoping their hard work paid off.
Source: Collider
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