Last night's Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins trailer has been met with a mostly positive response, though many longtime fans are upset that the movie shows the title character's face and has him speak.
That's never really been the case before now, with the adult Joe's face only ever seen in flashback. As a result, he's spent four decades as a silent warrior, but that's changing in the movie when Henry Golding takes on the title role.
Talking to IGN, the actor explained why this version's wartime experiences haven't led to his vocal cords and face being permanently damaged.
"Let's just say he wasn't born with a mask. There's always a beginning," Golding said. "And the importance for giving complexity to such an iconic character, I think drove us to be able to allow him to express himself because I don't think we were able to see that in the comic books."
"We weren't able to understand the hardships that got him to be who he is, the decisions that were made, the hurdles that had to be overcome, the wrong, the right. And we see all of that within this, [film] because perhaps he isn't the best of guys in the beginning, perhaps his motivations aren't true. But what he goes through with the Arashikage [Clan] perhaps puts him back on the right track."
It's certainly possible that something will happen that leaves Snake Eyes unable to talk, but it does feel like this movie is taking the character in a vastly different direction (it would be a little odd to expect Golding not to show his face or speak if and when a sequel does become a reality).
The actor also addressed the accent he'll use in the movie, which kicks off in Los Angeles rather than Japan or the Sierra Nevada mountains.
"He's moved around a tremendous amount, and I think it's non-distinct in where he's from, what his kind of background is. We see flashes of his life before. And so, we need to understand that this guy has been underground, this guy's been around."
Are you excited for Snake Eyes or has it taken one too many liberties with the source material?