G.I. Joe: the Rise of Cobra is a
2009 American live-action film adaptation of the
G.I. Joe toy franchise, with particular inspiration on the comic book
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. The film is directed by
Stephen Sommers, produced by
Lorenzo di Bonaventura and co-written by
Stuart Beattie, based on a 1998 screenplay by John Paul Kay.
G.I. Joe features an
ensemble cast based on the various characters of the franchise. The story follows two American soldiers,
Duke and
Ripcord, who join the
G.I. Joe Team after being attacked by
Cobra troops.
After leaked drafts of the script were criticized by fans,
Larry Hama, writer of the comic, was hired as
creative consultant and rewrites were made. Filming took place in
Downey, California and
Prague's
Barrandov Studios, and six different companies handled the visual effects. The film was released through August 5 to 7, 2009 worldwide, following an extensive marketing campaign focused on the Mid-American public. The film received mixed reviews but opened at the top of the
box office, grossing over $300 million worldwide. A sequel is being planned.