John M. Chu, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson And Channing Tatum Discuss Duke And Roadblock
G.I. Joe: Retaliation director John M. Chu talks in detail about his desire to introduce Roadblock to the franchise and why Dwayne Johnson was the right choice to bring him to life on the big screen. Johnson and Channing Tatum also comment about his role and their relationship in the sequel.
Source: Paramount Pictures UK
When John M. Chu decided to tackle the sequel to 2009's G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra, there was one character he knew he wanted to introduce to the franchise; Roadblock. When we meet him in G.I. Joe: Retaliation, he's second in command to Channing Tatum's Duke, but it was what he stood for in the team that made Chu want to bring him to the big screen. "He is one of the most loved characters in the G.I. Joe world and we knew we wanted Roadblock to be a part of the movie."
However, the biggest challenge for the director was finding an actor with the right extreme physical dominance and legendary size who would also be able to embody all of the character's unique characteristics. Enter, The Rock. "There is only one person I can think of in the entire world who could ever embody this character and Dwayne Johnson was that guy," says Chu. "Beyond the obvious fact of his physicality, Dwayne understands what it means to be a soldier and a leader. He brought an honor and grounded humanity to the role. Dwayne is essentially a G.I. Joe and that’s something you can’t act or script out. It’s just in his DNA. When you think of anyone who is almost a living action figure, Dwayne comes to mind."
"As a kid, I loved playing with the G.I. Joe action figures. When I got involved with the project I began to understand the mythology and was impressed by how layered it is and how deep it goes," Johnson says of his love for the franchise. "Roadblock is considered the glue that holds the G.I. Joe team together and I really appreciated his reluctance to being in the front or in the limelight. He does it for the love of country and service and I find it very admirable when a man is in that space." As for how Channing Tatum feels about his co-star, the 21 Jump Street star simply says, "Dwayne is an actual action figure. Every time I look at him on set I think ‘That’s The Rock!’ His arm is literally as big as my waist!"
Check out photos and video from the G.I. Joe: Retaliation London press conference HERE.
In this sequel, the G.I. Joes are not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra; they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their very existence. The film stars D.J. Cotrona, Byung-hun Lee, Adrianne Palicki, Ray Park, Jonathan Pryce, Ray Stevenson, Channing Tatum with Bruce Willis and Dwayne Johnson. Directed Jon M. Chu, and produced by Lorenzo di Bonventura and Brian Goldner, from screenplay by Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick based on Hasbro’s G.I Joe characters.
STARRING:
Channing Tatum as Duke
Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock
Bruce Willis as General Joseph Colton
Adrianne Palicki as Lady Jaye
Ray Park as Snake Eyes
Lee Byung-hun as Storm Shadow
Ray Stevenson as Firefly
RZA as Blind Master
Arnold Vosloo as Zartan
D.J. Cotrona as Flint
Elodie Yung as Jinx
Stephen Martines as Cross-Country
Eddie Hargitay as Tunnel Rat
Joseph Mazzello as Mouse
RELEASE DATE: March 27th, 2013.