Live-Action G.I. Joe Series - What We Know So Far
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There's a new live-action G.I. Joe television show in the works that's based on the Hasbro toy property that originated in the 1960s and the animated series and comics that followed starting in the '80s. This time around, Deadline says, the series will be a stand-alone story that focuses on Lady Jaye, one of the female members of the G.I. Joe team.
The creator and showrunner of the series will be Erik Oleson, who is the showrunner and executive producer of the upcoming second season of Carnival Row. He has also produced shows like Daredevil (its third season), The Man in the High Castle, Arrow, and Crisis. The upcoming G.I. Joe show comes from Paramount Television Studios, eOne, and Skydance Television. Lorenzo DiBonaventura will also be an executive producer.
The story is designed to work on its own, but is also intended to be a part of the larger G.I. Joe universe that's being established through the movies. The first film, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, came out in 2009, and the second, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, was released in 2013. A third movie, G.I. Joe: Ever Vigilant, is missing in action. A prequel of sorts, called Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, is expected out in October 2021, following a year-long coronavirus-fueled delay, to reboot the timeline. This project will be part of the revitalized universe. Here's what we know about the new G.I. Joe series so far.
When is the release date for the new live-action G.I. Joe series?
Details about the show are scarce, as Variety only just confirmed the news on Feb. 25, and one of the unknown aspects is the projected release date.
It's likely that the series is still in its early development stages, which means it might be some time before fans will know exactly when it might debut. Snake Eyes is coming in fall 2021, and the executives involved may not want to dilute any excitement for that movie by releasing the Lady Jaye-centered series too close. On the other hand, if that movie does well, it might be a good time for them to release more information about the new TV series, such as a final name, casting news, and release information.
They won't want to put it too far out, though: the original movies came out four years apart, with some cast members returning for the second and many others disappearing while new characters were added. For continuity's sake, and to create a certain momentum within the franchise, perhaps the different G.I. Joe properties that may be coming will take the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a model and make up a more cohesive whole.
Who will be in the cast of the new live-action G.I. Joe series?
It's not clear if casting has taken place yet for the Lady Jaye-focused series.
The character originates from the 1984 animated miniseries, G.I. Joe: The Revenge of Cobra, and was then incorporated into the animated series, G.I. Joe, in 1985. Lady Jaye was voiced by Mary McDonald-Lewis back then. And in 1985, she finally appeared in the comic books as well.
In her most recent appearance, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Adrienne Palicki (Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., The Orville) played the part of Lady Jaye. However, as the franchise is being rebooted, the roles were recast in Snake Eyes and this trend is expected to continue in future G.I. Joe installments, so Palicki is unlikely to return. It is also unclear if stars from Snake Eyes, which include Henry Golding as the popular commando, Samara Weaving as Scarlett, and Andrew Koji as Storm Shadow, will appear in this project.
What is the plot of the new live-action G.I. Joe series?
No plot details have yet been revealed except that the show will contain a stand-alone story about covert operations specialist Lady Jaye. The character has been developed in previous G.I. Joe stories as a gifted actress with a romantic interest in fellow soldier Flint.
It will be interesting to see if Lady Jaye gets an origin story like Snake Eyes, or if the series will focus on a later time in her life. Her fan-written bio, taken from the comics and the animated shows, has her as a Bryn Mawr, Trinity College-educated field agent with Airborne and Ranger training who is skilled at linguistics, intelligence, and analysis. Her real name is Alison R. Hart-Burnett, and she loves grunt work. In the TV series, she was revealed as being distantly related to villain Destro, which could make for an interesting backstory if developed.
Hopefully, fans will get additional plot news soon.
How can I watch the new live-action G.I. Joe series?
Oleson has an overall deal with Amazon Studios, which means this series will probably air on Amazon Prime Video. Lady Jaye's first live-action TV outing is probably destined to join the ranks of the upcoming Lord of the Rings series, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, and other exclusive original series as part of the online shopping giant's strategy to connect content with commerce.
So, if you already pay for an Amazon Prime membership, you should be set once the new G.I. Joe series comes out. If not, you might want to consider whether the service's free shipping and free streaming access is worth the price ($12.99 a month or $119 per year). If you don't have Amazon Prime and don't want those perks, you can also purchase just access to Amazon Prime Video for $8.99 a month. You definitely need another streaming service in your life though, right?