English-Malaysian actor Henry Golding is reportedly in early talks to star in an upcoming G.I. Joe spinoff film “Snake Eyes.”
Citing sources privy to the film’s development, Variety reports that filmmaker Robert Schwentke (The Divergent Series: “Insurgent” and “Allegiant”) has been tapped to helm the project currently being written by screenwriter Evan Spiliotopoulos (“Beauty and the Beast” and ”The Huntsman: Winter’s War”).
Golding, who made his acting debut in last year’s blockbuster hit “Crazy Rich Asians,” will be playing the fan-favorite ninja commando from the “G.I. Joe” franchise.
He recently appeared in the Lionsgate thriller “A Simple Favor” and is currently promoting a new film premiering in November, in which he stars opposite Emilia Clarke.
Fans have since taken to social media to celebrate the announcement of the film and casting choice:
All sounds promising. #SnakeEyes #HenryGolding https://t.co/VD9VlRlFcn
— Sean Murphy (@RealSeanMurph) August 14, 2019
My 8 year old self just fell out of the chair reading this!
I can already imagine Henry Golding as my favorite G.I. Joe, #SnakeEyes. https://t.co/7FTnFGyVWq— Amogh Huddar 💭 (@imakryptonian) August 14, 2019
Heard @henrygolding in the final negotiations to play #SnakeEyes they really didn’t do him justice in the previous movies, hope this reboot is good. also glad it’s a spinoff about him 😁 pic.twitter.com/FevdSpNnoz
— BossLogic (@Bosslogic) August 14, 2019
I know @jonmchu isn’t involved in #SnakeEyes, but I’m thanking him anyway since he made #GIJoeRetaliation (legit one of my fav movies) and discovered @henrygolding pic.twitter.com/5s4oj0IlQ2
— Keith Chow (@the_real_chow) August 14, 2019
Snake Eyes first appeared in the 1980s as part of Hasbro and Marvel Comics’ relaunch of the toy line, “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.”
Played by Scottish actor Ray Park in the film franchise, Snake Eyes was portrayed as a special mercenary on the G.I. Joe armed forces. He was revealed to be the brother of Storm Shadow, his arch-rival who works for G.I. Joe’s main enemy, Cobra. The G.I. Joe film franchise (a 2009 film and its 2013 sequel) has grossed over $678 million at the global box office.
When it was announced last year, the upcoming film was being cooked up as a “new spin on the series” with an original release date set on March 27, 2020.
Featured Image via Instagram / henrygolding (Left), YouTube / Ex Hitman (Right)
