If they re-cast Duke

[Timstuff]

I'm not saying that they necessarily re-cast Duke in the GI Joe sequel, or that it's even a necessity in order for the film to be good, but it's possible that for whatever reason they might end up with a different actor playing Duke in the sequel. Channing Tatum isn't exactly a big star so it's not like he'd be missed that badly from a box office POV. From a fan POV I think it would be met with a warm welcome since Tatum is considered by far and wide the weakest link of Rise of Cobra. Likeliness aside though, who do you think would be the ideal replacement for Tatum, regardless of reasons for why he might not return?

I personally think we'll be looking at a lot of the same names that are being tossed around for Captain America. They're similar characters in terms of appearance-- they're blond, muscular, and have a commanding presence which they use to inspire their troops. They're not exactly the same, obviously, but that same pool of actors would likely give us some good ideas as to where Paramount may look if Tatum is out.



Scott Porter: from Friday Night Lights; also a contender for Captain America; has been a longtime favorite to play The Flash.



Armie Hammer: cast as Batman in the canceled Justice League: Mortal; played Billy Graham in the biopic "Billy: The Early Years,"; blond hair, blue eyes; 6' 5" tall. He's one of my favorites, and with a name like "Armie" you know he'd fit in with GI Joe.



Jensen Ackles: Hey, he gets suggested for everything else, doesn't he? Best to include him for tradition, methinks. Maybe one of these days it'll actually stick.

[The Avatar]

I find this amusing because 2 of those actors you want for Duke are on the short list for Captain America, and now rumor is Joe Johnston is going to make an offer to Channing Tatum for Cap precisely because G.I. Joe and Dear John are evidence that he can headline a movie and be a box office draw.

But this does not mean that I want Tatum as Cap! I don't even want him as Duke! Watching him act is like watching cardboard, except Tatum's got less charisma.

IMO Mark Valley should have been Duke from the very beginning.

[Crimsonkid]

Not bust any bubbles, but a direct sequel is already in preproduction. Tatum and others are all signed on board. Them the facts.

While I didn't care for his performance either, I sincerely doubt they would go through the hollywood legal redtape of recasting the lead role of the first movie. Especially when his star is just starting to rise.

Don't get me wrong. As a whole, I enjoyed ROC. I do give him the benefit of the doubt cuz some of the lines he and the others had to deliver were just crap. But then again, it's frikin GI JOE not Citizen Cane...

IMO, Tatum as Duke should have a more supporting role in the sequel to introduce a new leading man....maybe Flint?

[Timstuff]

If Tatum comes back then Flint should be the team leader, with a big emphasis on Snake Eyes. Maybe Brendan Fraser's character will be Flint. He's an entertaining actor and can carry a film, so who knows.

[mr. peasant]

But Brendan Fraser isn't flint. He's 'Sgt. Stone'. If Flint appears, he'd be played by someone who hasn't already appeared in the movie as another character. Also, don't really want a huge emphasis on Snake Eyes (a la Wolverine in the X-Men franchise) since the movies are supposed to be about G.I. Joe vs Cobra and not 'screwed up ninja family galore'.

[bunk]

Porter is pretty solid actor, and I would be more interested in a sequel if they gave Tatum the boot.

[Crimsonkid]

Originally Posted by mr. peasant

Also, don't really want a huge emphasis on Snake Eyes (a la Wolverine in the X-Men franchise) since the movies are supposed to be about G.I. Joe vs Cobra and not 'screwed up ninja family galore'.

Word on the street is Storm Shadow plays a more pivotal role in #2. I'm assuming they'll delve deeper into the 'lore' of SE/SS. Which IMO is kind of the arch of the plot line they may be going for.

They did a mediocre job of explaining the back story in ROC. In their defense, it was a hard story to tell through a couple of flashbacks amid all the other chaos going on. At least they set it up for #2.

Regarding SE/SS, who thinks writers will stay true to the comic? They already jinxed one aspect( CC & Baroness)

[SouloHero]

Yeah, i agree that the SE/SS story was one of the strongest sub-plots of the movie, but it was still FLAWED...how do U leave it w/ the Hard master being killed by SS (supposedly) while they both were still kids? They could not be fully trained, full-fleged ninja masters after that point...the movie failed on so many levels... ; )

[mr. peasant]

Originally Posted by Crimsonkid

Word on the street is Storm Shadow plays a more pivotal role in #2. I'm assuming they'll delve deeper into the 'lore' of SE/SS. Which IMO is kind of the arch of the plot line they may be going for.

True. However, I hope it doesn't become the central plot and merely remains a spotlight-stealing subplot; something to develop the characters.

Originally Posted by SouloHero

Yeah, i agree that the SE/SS story was one of the strongest sub-plots of the movie, but it was still FLAWED...how do U leave it w/ the Hard master being killed by SS (supposedly) while they both were still kids? They could not be fully trained, full-fleged ninja masters after that point...the movie failed on so many levels... ; )

You don't need a master throughout the entire journey. In fact, you don't even need a master at all (otherwise, how did the first practitioners develop a martial art and subsequent generations advance it?). What happens is a master can only teach the students the various techniques and it's up to the students to continue practicing/perfecting them over time. And considering Storm Shadow probably studied ninjutsu from an early age, he could easily have had 10 years of daily training under his belt by the time he left.

[Timstuff]

Musashi Miyamoto was 13 years old when he went out into the world and started killing other Samurai. I think it's plausible that Storm Shadow could do the same.

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

I wouldnt be devastated if they re-cast Duke, I have to be honest, Tatum just wasnt good in the role, I normally hate re-casts, but in this instance it may be beneficial for once.

[Ipodman]

Jensen Ackles Yea he gets suggested all over the place

[Capt Throbberson]

I had no opinion on Tatum going in, but he was REALLY bad. Duke isn't exactly a complex role, just "Likable All-American looking Team Leader." and he couldn't pull it off. I'm usually pretty optimistic about actors like him, but it's like he was created in a lab to be the blandest lead on the planet. They could re-cast him with a rock and It'd still be a step up.

[Timstuff]

Normally, re-casting annoys me in movies since it chops up the consistency between films. However, in the case of GI Joe, Tatum was so bad that whatever you lose in consistency is outweighed by what you would gain from everything else. He's a horrible actor and is completely unlikable for me. I wouldn't be devastated if they came back, and I'd be (pleasantly) surprised if he didn't, but I hope that they at least consider the possibility of replacing him with a good actor.

[Timstuff]

Ironically, it's sounding like Channing Tatum might end up being the only actor in this damned movie that doesn't get re-cast.

[TheVileOne]

It's weird. No one liked Tatum as Duke, but Tatum had a slump and now he's blowing up again with The Vow and 21 Jump Street. He's in GI JOE 2 but it looks like they wrote him out of it. Wonder how the studio feels about that now.

Not that I hate the idea because I'm not a fan of Tatum and I hated his Duke.

[Octoberist]

I think if he does survive, they'll keep Channing.

[TheVileOne]

That'd be my guess. It's possible he was going to die but they could re-write his ending ala the animated movie.

Maybe future movies could become a like a Fast and Furious situation, but meh.

I still don't like Tatum as Duke though.

[Jake Cassidy]

I don't like Duke that much, so I don't really care.

[the great thor]

man lots of tatum hate out there. to be honest i actually like him in the movie, i know he was a little wooden at times in his acting. but hey a actor can get better and i think his skills have been better lately. i just hope they dont kill the duke charactor the way most of us think they will in this new movie.

[Ryudoz]

I believe there's a reason there's very few images of Duke in the trailers. And sadly, I would imagine it's because he's very much not alive at that point. I've been wrong before though.

[psylockolussus]

Armie Hammer would be an excellent choice!

[Majik1387]

No he wouldn't. And Duke is not gonna be recast anytime soon unless they reboot the franchise.

[Mace Dolex]

I never pictured Duke being played by a pretty boy or some big muscular guy with a buzzcut, Ed Harris as he looked in The Rock would've been my ideal Duke.

[Kal-El.9859]

aren't they killing Duke off??? I never cared for Channing Tater as Duke to begin with. I say after this movie, wait about 5 years and then reboot....make it more modern and less fantasy. Make it a war movie since fantasy didn't work too well in the first one. If this one is a success they need to find a way to resurrect Duke and recast him....