Henry Golding is riding his good looks and breakout role in Crazy Rich Asians to super stardom. The guy has a major holiday rom-com coming out and now THR is reporting that he is in final talks to take on the role of G.I. Joe ninja Snake Eyes in the upcoming solo film for the character.
In the first two films the character was played by Star Wars alum Ray Park, but he didn’t remove his mask and he barely spoke and he’s not Asian. Obviously, that’s not an option for the new film for a variety of reasons, so the filmmakers went out searching for a new actor. The movie will focus on Snake Eyes getting revenge for his father’s death by joining a ninja clan and will thus, obviously, function as a prequel to the previous Joe films… not that continuity is all that important in a franchise that’s be dormant for years.
With Robert Schwentke at the helm I’m not all that hopeful that this movie will be anything but schlock, but sometimes schlock can work. The real test is whether or not we get some decent fight scene direction or if Schwentke chops the shit out of it until we’re just watching a blur. Credit where it’s due, the cliff-side sword fight in the last G.I. Joe film was stellar, but that was a different director.
Henry Golding to Star in G.I. Joe Spinoff ‘Snake Eyes’ [THR]
