There's a lot of speculation out there right now as to why G.I.Joe: Retaliation was pushed back nearly a year. While Paramount execs are touting the financial boost of 3D, some film critics are insinuating that the move may have ulterior motives. Regardless, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has confirmed that they will actually be shooting new scenes for 3D rather than opting for a simple post film, 3D conversion. Also, there are rumors that Paramount is using the additional time to actively pursue Joseph Gordon-Levitt to return as Cobra Commander. With The Dark Knight Rises and Looper set to release later this year, JGL's profile will surely be front and center to the movie-going populace.
If JGL does return, let's hope it's not as this travesty.
Update: Jon M. Chu on the initial decision to not shoot in 3D. Note, this interview was conducted back in March at the 2012 South by Southwest Film Festival. [Per The Hollywood Reporter]
THR: How was it decided not to shoot the film in 3D?
Jon M. Chu: There was a point where we were talking about it when I first came. It seemed like a natural thing, but I told them, “I know 3D. This is what we need. If we’re going to do 3D, we’re going to do it right.” It had a certain price tag to it, and I was like, if you guys are down I'm down, but I do need more time to do it right. And they were about to do it but they cut it just a little bit short, and [I said,] “if you guys are going to cut it short there is no point. Let’s make a movie -- let’s go for it and we’ll go all out. And we shot on film, super-35, and I thought this may be one of the last times I get to shoot on film, and it was actually kind of freeing. I mean, I love 3D and I think there is a lot you can do with it, but there is something to be said about just not waiting for anything. You’re just going. We shot so much film. I mean I think we shot 1.2 million feet of film.
Running Time: Unknown
Release Date: 29 March 2013 (USA)
MPAA Rating: Unknown
Starring:Dwayne Johnson, D.J. Cotrona, Adrianne Palicki, Ray Stevenson, Channing Tatum, RZA, Byung-hun Lee, Elodie Yung, Bruce Willis, Ray Park and Arnold Vosloo
Directed by: Jon M. Chu
Written by: Rhett Reese (screenplay), Paul Wernick (screenplay)
G.I. Joe: Retaliation (also known as G.I. Joe 2 or G.I. Joe 2: Retaliation) is an upcoming 2012 action film directed by Jon M. Chu, based on Hasbro's G.I. Joe toy, comic and media franchises. It is a sequel to 2009's G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. It is set for a March 29, 2013 release in North America. The film was written by Zombieland writers, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. G.I. Joe: Retaliation features an ensemble cast, starring WWE Superstar Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis, with Channing Tatum, Arnold Vosloo, Ray Park, Jonathan Pryce and Lee Byung-hun reprising their roles from the first film.