‘Warrior’s Andrew Koji has been cast as Storm Shadow in the ‘G.I. Joe’ spin-off movie ‘Snake Eyes’. Henry Golding will play the titular hero. Koji plays Ah Sahm on Cinemax’s ‘Warriors’, a series created by Jonathan Tropper and Justin Lin based on an original idea by Bruce Lee. This is his first major role, although he has made appearances in numerous projects including ‘American Gods’ and ‘Fast & Furious 6’. Lee Byung-hun portrayed Storm Shadow in ‘G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra’ (2009) and ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation’ (2013). Brandon Soo Hoo portrayed young Storm Shadow in ‘The Rise of Cobra’, while Nathan Takashige did so in ‘Retaliation’.
Storm Shadow is one of the most complex (some would say convoluted) character in the ‘G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero’ mythos, as he started out as an agent of Cobra, introduced as a villainous counterpart to Snake Eyes. It was later revealed that he was an undercover agent sent to secretly infiltrate Cobra. Because the property has been rebooted numerous times on various animated series, comic books, and the movies, his story and role change depending on the creators of those projects. Throughout the years, he has been depicted as both a hero and a villain.
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Both he and Snake Eyes are part of the Arashikage ninja clan. (Storm Shadow’s real name is Thomas S. Arashikage.) They were raised as brothers, and their relationship fluctuates between fierce loyalty and bitter rivalry.
‘Snake Eyes’ will be directed by Robert Schwentke (‘RED’, ‘Allegiant’). Evan Spiliotopoulos (‘Beauty and the Beast’, the upcoming ‘Charlie’s Angels’) wrote the screenplay. Lorenzo DiBonaventura is producing.
A third ‘G.I. Joe’ team movie, ‘G.I. Joe: Ever Vigilant’ was in the works, before Paramount Pictures and Hasbro have decided to focus on this solo movie in an effort to revive interest in the brand.
‘Snake Eyes’ is scheduled to hit theaters on October 16, 2020.
