Tim Walker: Hang on, let's rewrite the ending

Tales From The Water Cooler: I could understand if it was Matt Damon getting bumped off. Or Ryan Gosling. But Channing Tatum?

Tim Walker
Saturday 02 June 2012 09:23 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

If you thought Battleship looked over-plotted, and Avengers Assemble a bit too wordy, then perhaps you were looking forward to the June release of G.I. Joe: Retaliation. How disappointing it must have been, therefore, to learn that this sequel to G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, starring Bruce Willis and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, has been delayed, at the very last minute, until March 2013.

Paramount Pictures, which has already spent vast amounts on its G.I. Joe marketing campaign – including a Super Bowl commercial and a range of toys – announced that the film was being put back so it could be converted to 3D, in the hope of boosting its potential box office takings. The studio was spooked, it said, by the year's big flops, John Carter and the aforementioned Battleship.

This week, however, Hollywood bloggers have revealed another reason for the postponement: apparently, test screenings for the film scored somewhere between mediocre and bad, because the character played by Channing Tatum got himself killed in the first reel. So, along with the 3D conversion, the studio is reportedly reshooting long sections of the movie, and resurrecting Tatum for the duration, or near enough.

I suppose I could understand if it was Matt Damon getting bumped off. Or Ryan Gosling. But Channing Tatum? I mean, I wanted Goose to survive in Top Gun. Would that have made it a better film? Obviously not.

But this is the barminess of contemporary Hollywood. With all the money that'll end up being spent between now and March on reshoots, Tatum toys and even (maybe) another Super Bowl ad, you could probably make five Ken Loach movies, at least. And chances are G.I. Joe: Retaliation will still wind up being a bust.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in