{"id":3860,"date":"2021-07-24T12:43:41","date_gmt":"2021-07-24T16:43:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cinemadailyus.com\/?p=3860"},"modified":"2021-07-24T12:45:35","modified_gmt":"2021-07-24T16:45:35","slug":"snake-eyes-comic-con-panel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemadailyus.com\/?p=3860","title":{"rendered":"Snake Eyes Comic-Con Panel"},"content":{"rendered":"

Snake Eyes Comic-Con Panel<\/strong><\/p>\n

Q: Welcome to the official kick off to Comic-Con@Home 2021, with Snake Eyes<\/i>! I\u2019m Mari Takahashi and I am so excited to be your host today. Even though we\u2019re not in person this year, it doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t meet up at a local movie theater tonight in select markets and be the first to experience Snake Eyes<\/i> only on the big screen in the exclusive Comic-Con Fans First Premiere screenings.<\/p>\n

But first, we will give you an inside look at the film we\u2019ve all been waiting for, Snake Eyes<\/i>, with special content and exclusive interviews from stars Henry Golding, Andrew Koji, \u00darsula Corber\u00f3, Samara Weaving, Haruka Abe, Iko Uwais, and Takehiro Hira, as well as the original writer of the GI Joe: A Real American hero comic books, the legend himself, Larry Hama. But don\u2019t worry, we won\u2019t be giving away any spoilers here, but we will be pulling the mask off the origin story we\u2019ve all been waiting a lifetime for. Our first stop, you know her from her killer performance in Ready or Not<\/i>, playing the crossbow-wielding Scarlet, don\u2019t mess with this lethal weapon. It\u2019s Samara Weaving.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Samara Weaving plays Scarlett in Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins from Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Skydance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Samara Weaving: Hello, my name is Samara Weaving, and I\u2019m very, very excited to be a part of Comic-Con@Home. I wish I was there with you guys, but alas.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Q : In this film, Scarlet represents the GI Joes. Let\u2019s find out how Samara felt about taking on such a big responsibility.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Samara Weaving: Very nerve-wracking. Very exciting. Very daunting, But ultimately very, very cool. She is Alita. Such a badass.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: One thing that this film delivers on is action. So, how does an actress like Samara train for an adventure this big?<\/p>\n

Samara Weaving: Woo hoo hoo! The training we went through! It was tough, but really, really fun. And we had such an incredible team. My beautiful stunt double Jacqui Geurts is a real-life Scarlet.<\/p>\n

Q: All of that sounds epic, but I think we\u2019re really dying to know about the relationship between Scarlet and her arch-rival Baroness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Samara Wearing: Ah, Scarlet and the Baroness. Well, they have a complicated history. They were quite close, but they ultimately disagreed on the fundamental, moral ideals.<\/p>\n

Stunning and dangerous, thank you Samara. One of the coolest things about Snake Eyes<\/i> is that the production shot in Japan to achieve an unmatched energy only being on location can bring. Japan\u2019s not only an incredible location in this film, it becomes a character.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Lorenzo di Bonaventura: Shooting in Japan was super important for driving the story.<\/p>\n

Henry Golding: Some of the locations that we filmed at were just amazing. Thousand-year-old temples, and Himeji Castle being one of the greatest locations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Andrew Koji: When he goes to Japan, there\u2019s some energy that you pick up from actually being there.<\/p>\n

Henry Golding: And because Japan plays such an integral role, it was so important to get that right.<\/p>\n

Q : It\u2019s always great to see the beauty and mystery of Japan captured for the cinematic experience. I mean, it\u2019s really breathtaking. Now, let\u2019s get even more insight into shooting these amazing locations from someone who is very familiar with Japan. A really, really good guy and an even better bad guy, Takehiro Hira. Being Japanese himself, Takehiro was the perfect ambassador for this global cast.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Takehiro Hira: We ate so well, we went to ramen shops, sushi places all over Tokyo and Himeji. \u00darsula was the leader in the gourmet department and so she somehow found all the good restaurants and took us there. Andrew ate all the eels, twenty or thirty of those one night.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: While the cast was clearly in good hands with Takehiro, let\u2019s hear about how much fun he had being a bad guy.<\/p>\n

Takehiro Hira: You have to be careful, because when you go home, you still carry the badass. But when you come home, maybe not, so you\u2019ll get your ass kicked by your kid, then your wife.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: Takehiro-san, thank you so much. The official Snake Eyes<\/i> profile is mostly classified, that is, until now, so who better to talk about the unknown origins for an unknown origin story than the original writer of the GI Joe comic books, the genius behind the silent interlude, the one, the only Larry Hama.<\/p>\n

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Larry Hama: This is Larry Hama, and I\u2019m really happy to be here.<\/p>\n

Q: Even though Larry spent a ton of time dreaming up Snake Eyes\u2019 world, walking onto the set of the movie was a whole new experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Larry Hama: I was totally surprised and I was just amazed with the detail everywhere you looked, meticulously researched detail.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: The relationship between Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow was always at the heart of the comics and this film takes it even further.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Larry Hama: The basic scenario and the story had to be updated. It gives you a deeper sense of who both of these characters are, because Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes are really the two sides of the same coin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: Now every Snake Eyes fan knows his identity has always been a secret, but even Larry was excited about giving the fans a face behind the mask. Could have been this face. But it\u2019s not! It\u2019s Henry\u2019s face. Thank goodness. Alright Larry, take it away.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Larry Hama: There\u2019s an entire history of Snake Eyes that I never really delved into. It adds a whole dimensionality to the character that couldn\u2019t exist when faceless and voiceless. He\u2019s somebody that could bring a real gravitas to the role.<\/p>\n

Q : What a true comic book icon! Thank you so much, Larry. Next up, we\u2019re going behind the scenes to experience incredible martial arts action brought to you by legendary fight coordinator Kenji Tanigaki.<\/p>\n

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Henry Golding: We all know Snake Eyes as this absolute weapon, so with Kenji Tanigaki, we did such an intensive training course.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Kenji Tanigaki: Many movies just have a sword fight. Or a gun fight. Car action. But this movie has everything.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Kimani Ray Smith: Kenji is a myth, a legend, a god.<\/p>\n

Kenji Tanigaki: Kimani, when we shoot, we are on the same page.<\/p>\n

Henry Golding: All of the actors, they really breathe these characters through the training. We can do every single thing that was thrown at us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Q : That looks amazing! Now, let\u2019s check in with another member of our cast and cut even deeper into this stunning fight choreography. I can\u2019t say cut even deeper with a sword in front of me and not show the \u2013 we all want to see it, right? I know I\u2019m not supposed to touch this but, ah! Oh my gosh. Yo. That is so \u2013 no, don\u2019t touch it? I\u2019m getting a don\u2019t touch it. It is from the movie? Okay. Back to it. If you\u2019ve never seen The Raid<\/i>, you\u2019ve missed some of the most incredible cinematic fighting in years. So joining us all the way from Indonesia, playing Hard Master, please welcome global star Iko Uwais.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Iko Uwais: I love working with Kenji. I totally respect him as a fight choreographer and I love his style.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: As you can imagine, with these two legends working together, the fights in Snake Eyes<\/i> are absolutely epic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Iko Uwais: It\u2019s a very good balance between hand-to-hand combat and with weapons.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: Now it\u2019s one thing for veteran fighters like Iko Uwais and Kenji Tanigaki to dish it out. But how did Snake Eyes himself, Henry Golding, measure up?<\/p>\n

Iko Uwais: Even though he\u2019s not known as a martial artist, he managed to put the right kind of emotion and thought in his fight scenes. It\u2019s like he\u2019s been doing this for years.<\/p>\n

Q: He may come off as a soft-spoken person, but trust me, you do not want to mess with Hard Master. Even though Snake Eyes is opening on the 23rd and premiering across the country and the Comic-Con Fans First premiere is happening in cities around the country tonight, we\u2019re here to tease you about this epic saga, not give anything away, but I think this next piece will definitely let you know that, while Snake Eyes is very much a standalone film, it lives and breathes within the GI Joe universe. Let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n

Showing Clip<\/p>\n

Q: I always love those GI Joe PSAs. It\u2019s a veritable cornucopia of worldly knowledge. Now, let\u2019s get back to our incredible cast. When we talk about energy and intrigue on the big screen, raising the game, deliciously devious, never knowing whose side she\u2019s really on, we can only be talking about Baroness. And who better to play this cunning and alluring character? Joining us all the way from her home in Spain, you should know her from Money Heist, and if you don\u2019t, watch it now, trust me. The infinitely, talented, the one and only, \u00darsula Corber\u00f3.<\/p>\n

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Ursula Corbero plays The Baroness in Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins from Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Skydance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00darsula Corber\u00f3: Hello guys, I\u2019m \u00darsula Corber\u00f3. I\u2019m playing the Baroness in Snake Eyes<\/i>, and I\u2019m very excited to join you at Comic-Con this year.<\/p>\n

Q: Let\u2019s hear what she has to say about taking on the role of the villainess and working with such an international cast.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00darsula Corber\u00f3: I had so much fun playing the Baroness. She\u2019s a powerful woman, she\u2019s always in control. Also very manipulative, very clever, but at the same time, she never loses her sense of humor. In short, she\u2019s a badass. This has been my first movie in Hollywood. When I started shooting, I didn\u2019t speak a lot of English, so it was challenging to communicate with my castmates. But now, not only do I understand my colleagues, but I love them so much.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: One of the most captivating things about Baroness is her relationship with Scarlet, and in this film, their rivalry goes to a whole new level.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00darsula Corber\u00f3: They\u2019ve known each other for a long time. They used to be close friends at school, but they drifted apart, and ended up on opposite sides of the law. I think guys, you\u2019re going to love it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Q : Thank you so much for joining us, \u00darsula. As you know, Snake Eyes does not become Snake Eyes without the Arashikage clan. We\u2019ve already spoken to the film\u2019s Hard Master, but Snake Eyes had another teacher on this journey. Unfortunately, our Blind Master, Peter Mensah, wasn\u2019t able to join us today. At its core, a film like Snake Eyes<\/i> is all about martial arts and swordplay, culminating in fighting sequences that will blow all of us away. Ready to elaborate is an actress who lights up the screen with some electrifying Catana work, while embracing the virtues of strength, loyalty and wisdom. Playing Akiko, someone that Henry Golding himself called insanely badass, please welcome Haruka Abe.<\/p>\n

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Haruka Abe plays Akiko in Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins from Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Skydance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Haruka Abe: Can I just be a fangirl for a second and say that I love Comic-Con, and it\u2019s always been one of my dreams to come here with a film, so I am super excited to be a part of Comic-Con@Home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: Well, Akiko may be the least-known character in the film, but Haruka made sure she could go toe-to-toe with legends like Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Haruka Abe: Akiko is Arashikage\u2019s head of security. She\u2019s a very capable fighter, she\u2019s a rational thinker, and she is fiercely loyal and protective of the clan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: Pulling off this level of action wasn\u2019t easy. Let\u2019s hear about some of the physical demands of bringing Akiko to life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Haruka Abe: Yes, it was a very physically demanding role. Four hours a day, every day, for two and a half months before filming started. And then I\u2019d go home with my practice weapons and head straight to the gym and go over everything I learnt that day. It was hard, but it was the best kind of hard.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Thank you, Haruka. I\u2019m so excited to talk to our next guest, one of the most iconic and mysterious characters from the world of GI Joe, Storm Shadow. Even his name sounds like a mystery. And now, finally we get to learn more about Snake Eyes\u2019 only brother, not by blood, but by honor, played by Warrior<\/i>\u2019s Andrew Koji, the one, the only Storm Shadow.<\/p>\n

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Andrew Koji plays Tommy in Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins from Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Skydance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Andrew Koji: Great to be here, Mari. I\u2019m looking forward to answering some questions for our Comic-Con@Home fans.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: Now, the relationship between Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes has always been at the forefront of the GI Joe universe. What do you think makes it so compelling?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Andrew Koji: The relationship between Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes is a very yin and yang. For an actor, it\u2019s very rich to explore the psychology and behavior and the reasons why. I think there\u2019s a lot about two brothers that go into battle together. It\u2019s such an interesting dynamic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: Fans of yours know that you\u2019re no stranger to big action. How did you approach the combat in this film, though?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Andrew Koji: We were trying to find the style of how Storm Shadow moves. I very much based it on Miyamoto Musashi, an ancient Japanese warrior from back in the day. He used a double sword, which is obviously Storm Shadow\u2019s iconic weaponry. You just have to get used to it, figure out the fundamentals and practice that, and then once you know it, then they\u2019re just like an extension of your body.<\/p>\n

Q: And last but definitely not least, what it is about ninjas that makes them so fascinating?<\/p>\n

Andrew Koji: Basically, there\u2019s not much that people know about them. They\u2019re a warrior culture and they\u2019re very much branched from the samurai, but they\u2019re covert operators in the Shogun era. Their moral codes can sometimes tow a certain line. This fascinates a lot of people.<\/p>\n

Q :\u00a0Well, something tells me that we\u2019ll get to see some of that classic Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes tension in this film. Comic-Con Fans First premiere of Snake Eyes<\/i> is in cities across the US tonight. And now, ready to join us, the man behind the mask, please welcome Henry Golding.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Henry Golding plays Snake Eyes in Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins from Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Skydance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Henry Golding: Hey, Mari! Hey, Comic-Con@Home fans. I\u2019m so excited to be here and for everyone to finally see Snake Eyes<\/i><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: We\u2019re so excited to have you here. Henry, what are you most excited for this fans to see in this film?<\/p>\n

Henry Golding: Of course, the action. The creation of that iconic relationship between Snake and Storm Shadow. But also, the launching of this entire franchise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: Tell us about the reactions you\u2019re getting from GI Joe fans around the world since they found out you were playing Snake Eyes.<\/p>\n

Henry Golding: There\u2019s been an amazing outreach from fans all around the world for the chance to see the man behind the mask, to understand the relationships that have brought him to the place where we all know him as that weapon. We finally sort of have a peek into Snake Eyes himself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: I had a chance to chat with Andrew about this earlier, but why do you think the relationship between Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow has been so compelling to GI Joe fans for all these decades?<\/p>\n

Henry Golding: The relationship between Snake and Storm has always been one of the most iconic. One minute, they\u2019re brothers, the next they\u2019re adversaries, the next they\u2019re kind of fighting towards a greater good, but we need to understand where all of that stems from, and this film showcases that.<\/p>\n

Q: Can you tell us about some of your favorite moments on set?<\/p>\n

Henry Golding: Man, there were countless favorite moments for me. But of course one of my definite favorites had to be the car carrier scene, which unfolds with just your heart in your mouth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: Okay, before I let you go, what is it about ninjas that makes them so cool?<\/p>\n

Henry Golding: I think it\u2019s the dedication that they put into honing their skills to accomplish missions. I think we\u2019ve all pretended at some point in our childhoods to be ninjas, or even to be Snake Eyes.<\/p>\n

Q: Thank you, Henry. I want to give a big thanks to everyone today, including you all watching. And also our guests, who are finally making it possible to bring the Snake Eyes story to the big screen. Sadly, we\u2019ve come to the end of our show. My name is Mari Takahashi and it has been my absolute pleasure to be your host today and I hope you all go see Snake Eyes<\/i> when it hits theaters July 23rd. And let\u2019s face it. I know everyone wants more Snake Eyes before we go, so Henry, any last words for the fans?<\/p>\n

Henry Golding: Yes, thanks, Mari. Now, I know, I\u2019ve been saying that this is a tease and we won\u2019t be giving any spoilers, but since Snake Eyes: GI Origins<\/strong> <\/i>premieres tonight exclusively for fans first, there\u2019s a chance I might be at one of those screenings. If not, check us out in theaters everywhere this weekend. Thank you to all the fans. We\u2019ll be seeing you at the movies. Yo Joe!<\/p>\n

Here’s the trailer of the film.<\/p>\n