G.I. JOE: RETALIATION Release Delay Explained by Studio Insiders

The upcoming action film sequel from Paramount Pictures and director Jon Chu stars Channing Tatum, Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis, Arnold Vosloo and Adrianne Palicki and is now scheduled for theatrical release in March 2013.

A follow-up to the 2009 release of G.I. JOE: RISE OF THE COBRA, which grossed over $300M worldwide, Paramount Pictures, MGM and Skydance Productions, in association with HASBRO and di Bonaventura Pictures, commences production on G.I. JOE: RETALIATION. 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.

Paramount Pictures recently moved the theatrical release date of G.I. Joe: Retaliation from June 29th, 2012 to March 29, 2013. The film will also be given a post production conversion to 3D in an effort to bolster foreign box office gross. Deadline.com has now offered a detailed explanation for the delay via unnamed sources within the studio:

“This was a case of letting a schedule to fill a summer slot dictate the film not being in 3D even though we knew that would be the most commercial version of the film. Then in the spring there were 2 big events. First John Carter lost $200M despite the best efforts of the Pixar brain trust. But the 3D film managed to gross over $200M overseas, nearly tripling its U.S. take.

“Also Channing Tatum had a breakout spring, starring in The Vow and 21 Jump Street. In our first screening of the film the reaction from audiences was good but with 2 big concerns: 1) They didn’t like the fact that Channing and The Rock really didn’t have any time to develop a friendship before Channing died, and 2) Why wasn’t it going to be in 3D? We went back and shot another week with Channing to develop more of his story with The Rock, which made the film play much better. But we didn’t have the time to be in 3D.

“Then a week ago Battleship basically had the same performance as John Carter – $60M-$70M U.S. and just over $200M international. That was just a wake-up call that said to us we need to offer the best version of the film irrespective of summer market share to ensure the best possible performance. And not being in 3D will cost us a ton of business internationally.”

G.I. Joe: Retaliation is directed by Jon Chu (Justin Bieber: Never Say Never) and stars Channing Tatum as Duke, Ray Park and Lee Byung-hun (I Saw the Devil) as the dueling ninjas Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson as Roadblock, Elodie Yung as Jinx, D.J. Cotrona as Flint, RZA as Blind Master, Adrianne Palicki as Lady Jaye, Ray Stevenson as the villainous Firefly, Walton Goggins will play Warden Nigel James and Joe Mazzello in the role of Mouse. Bruce Willis will play General Joe Colton, the original G.I. Joe and the man from which the military super-team gets its name.