G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
First G.I. Joe film based on Hasbro toy line.
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, released in 2009, is an American military science fiction movie based on Hasbro’s G.I. Joe toy line and the first film in its series. Stephen Sommers directed it, with a screenplay by Stuart Beattie, David Elliot, and Paul Lovett. The story centers on two U.S. soldiers, Duke and Ripcord, who are attacked by M.A.R.S. troops and subsequently become part of the G.I. Joe Team.
Development for the film started in 2003, but after the U.S. invasion of Iraq that same year, Hasbro suggested adapting Transformers instead. Following fan criticism of leaked script drafts, Larry Hama—who wrote the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic series—was brought in as a creative consultant, and the script was revised. Filming occurred in Downey, California, and at Prague’s Barrandov Studios. Six companies handled visual effects, with Digital Domain serving as the lead.
The movie premiered at Andrews Air Force Base on July 31, 2009, and was released in the U.S. on August 7 by Paramount Pictures, backed by a marketing campaign aimed at the Mid-American public. Critics mostly gave it negative reviews, but it earned $302.5 million worldwide against a $175 million budget. A sequel, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, came out in 2013.
**Plot** Weapons designer James McCullen develops nanotech warheads—nanobots that consume non-organic materials—and sells four to NATO. Soldiers Duke and Ripcord are assigned to deliver them. Their convoy is ambushed by the Baroness, whom Duke recognizes as his ex-fiancée Ana Lewis. G.I. Joe operatives Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Breaker, and Heavy Duty rescue them and bring the warheads to The Pit, the Joes’ Egyptian command center. General Hawk allows Duke and Ripcord to join after Duke reveals his history with the Baroness.
McCullen, with help from the masked Doctor, uses the same nanotechnology to build an army. They plan to deploy the warheads to create global panic and establish a new world order. Storm Shadow, the Baroness, and Zartan infiltrate the G.I. Joe base and steal the warheads, taking them to Baron DeCobray—the Baroness’s husband—to weaponize in his particle accelerator. He is killed afterward. The Joes chase the Baroness and Storm Shadow to Paris, where one nanobot missile is launched, destroying the Eiffel Tower. Duke hits a kill switch but is captured and taken to McCullen’s Arctic base.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Stephen Sommers
- Screenplay
- Stuart Beattie / David Elliot / Paul Lovett
- Story
- Michael B. Gordon / Stuart Beattie / Stephen Sommers
- Based On
- G.I. Joe characters · Hasbro
- Producer
- Lorenzo di Bonaventura / Brian Goldner / Bob Ducsay
- Cinematography
- Mitchell Amundsen
- Editing
- Bob Ducsay / Jim May
- Music
- Alan Silvestri
- Studio
- Paramount Pictures / Spyglass Entertainment / Hasbro Studios / di Bonaventura Pictures / The Sommers Company
- Distributor
- Paramount Pictures
- Released
- 31 July 2009 · Andrews Air Force Base · 2009 · 08 · 07 · United States
- Runtime
- 118 minutes
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Development for the first film began in 2003, but when the United States launched the invasion of Iraq in March 2003, Hasbro suggested adapting the Transformers instead. After leaked drafts of the script were criticized by fans, Larry Hama, writer of the comic book series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, was hired as creative consultant, and rewrites were made. Filming took place in Downey, California and Prague's Barrandov Studios, while six companies handled the visual effects with Digital Domain as the main visual effects company.
The plot involves weapons master James McCullen creating a nanotech-based weapon of nanobots that devour non-organic materials. His company M.A.R.S. sells four warheads to NATO, and soldiers Duke and Ripcord are tasked to deliver them. After an ambush by the Baroness, they are rescued by G.I. Joe operatives and join the team. The story culminates in a battle to stop McCullen's plan to cause worldwide panic and bring about a new world order, with the Doctor revealed to be Rex Lewis, the Baroness's brother, and Zartan infiltrating the White House to assume the identity of the President of the United States.
The cast includes Channing Tatum as Duke, Dennis Quaid as Hawk, Marlon Wayans as Ripcord, Ray Park as Snake Eyes, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the Doctor/Cobra Commander. The film features an ensemble cast based on various characters from the toy line.
Reader's Guide
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra premiered at Andrews Air Force Base on July 31, 2009, and was released in the United States on August 7 by Paramount Pictures, following an extensive marketing campaign focused on the Mid-American public. Despite mostly negative reviews from critics, the film grossed $302.5 million worldwide against a $175 million budget. A sequel, titled G.I. Joe: Retaliation, was released in 2013. The film's significance lies in launching the G.I. Joe film series and adapting the Hasbro toy line into a live-action military science fiction context, though it faced criticism from fans during development and upon release. Its legacy includes establishing the franchise's cinematic universe and introducing characters that would continue in subsequent installments.
Did You Know?
- Channing Tatum turned down the role of Duke seven times before eventually agreeing due to a contractual obligation with Paramount.
- The film's visual effects were handled by six companies, with Digital Domain as the main visual effects company.
- Zartan infiltrates the White House and assumes the identity of the President of the United States as part of McCullen's plan.
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