“The 3D is an excuse as to not reveal the Tatum of it all.” - Source for Deadline
When the
G.I. Joe sequel vacated the prime summer real estate for what Paramount insists was a move to add 3D to the film this left many scratching their heads. Since that news rumors have been circulating that there could've been other reasons for the delay.
Deadline has now jumped into the fray with new information from their sources. They say Paramount grew concerned when they saw
John Carter falter at the box office, but...
“Also Channing Tatum had a breakout spring, starring in The Vow and 21 Jump Street. In our first screening of the film the reaction from audiences was good but with 2 big concerns: 1) They didn’t like the fact that Channing and The Rock really didn’t have any time to develop a friendship before Channing died, and 2) Why wasn’t it going to be in 3D? We went back and shot another week with Channing to develop more of his story with The Rock, which made the film play much better. But we didn’t have the time to be in 3D.
“Then a week ago Battleship basically had the same performance as John Carter – $60M-$70M U.S. and just over $200M international. That was just a wake-up call that said to us we need to offer the best version of the film irrespective of summer market share to ensure the best possible performance. And not being in 3D will cost us a ton of business internationally.”
Deadline goes on to say that Channing Tatum's next film
Magic Mike was a bit of concern as well. The film about male strippers is set to open in June, and that would've put it up against
G.I. Joe. Paramount figured Tatum fans would rather see him in a g-string than a military uniform.
Meanwhile, other sources tell Deadline that G.I. Joe 2 director Jon M. Chu is “shellshocked” over the release date move. Paramount kept him on a very tight leash from the beginning of the production. Among other things, they wouldn’t let him bring onboard David Nicksay, who has worked with Chu as executive producer on the Step Up movies and the Justin Bieber documentary.
G.I. Joe Retaliation stars Channing Tatum, D.J. Cotrona, Byung-hun Lee, Ray Park, Adrianne Palicki, Jonathan Pryce, RZA, Ray Stevenson, and will be released
June 29, 2012 sometime in March.