- Title: JAPAN: Red carpet in Tokyo for the stars of G.I. Joe movie
- Date: 28th July 2009
- Summary: RAIN COMING DOWN HARDER CASTS OF "G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA" WALKING ONTO A STAGE WHILE FANS CHEER IN RAIN COATS CASTS OF "G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA" ON STAGE
- Embargoed: 12th August 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Reuters ID: LVADIUPXPL2ZQDWZU3VJW86LVJ1E
- Story Text: Hollywood actor Channing Tatum and the stars of the upcoming summer blockbuster "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" walked down the red carpet in Tokyo during the film's Japan premiere on Monday (July 27) as hundreds of Japanese fans went gaga over their favourite stars.
Amid intermittent rain, Tatum led the "G.I. Joe" team - with British actress Sienna Miller, Marlon Wayans, Rachel Nichols and South Korean star Byung Hun Lee - down the red carpet and in between screaming fans giving autographs, hugs and even kisses.
In the movie, Tatum played Duke, a key leader of the G.I. Joe crew.
He said his experience with team "G.I.Joe" was one of a kind.
"You know Beyung, I've only seen one movie of his and I thought he was maybe just one of the most charismatic people I've ever seen. And I never met Sienna before, before we started to rehearse and what not and they're all just brilliant actors and they are just so fun to just get to do like a really fun movie," 29-year-old Tatum, who also starred in movies such as "Public Enemies" and "Step Up," told Reuters.
"There wasn't a lot of pressure, you know, we're just all having fun and like kinda like goofing off, you know, and then you have Marlon, which is maybe one of the funniest people I've ever met in my life," he added. Tatum recently married his "Step Up" co-star Jenna Dewan in Malibu, California.
Co-star Wayans says he too had a blast on the set.
"We had a blast man you know that I'm from the brotherhood with every last single one of them, they're all like family. When we went to Prague, we all hung out, you know, even Byung (Lee) came out of his shell and we had good times and it's definitely worth the experience," said Wayans.
"I like to be silly, I like to have a good time and finally I get to be a hero, but with humor and that's what's cool," he added.
The live-action film is based on the popular action figure which, though launched in the 1960s, found phenomenal success in the 1980s, spawning comic books, cartoon series, and video games.
"G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra" is set ten years in the future and tells the story of newcomers Tatum and Wayans into the elite American military force having to fight off the villains played by Miller and Lee.
Miller, one of the film's villains, said her role was one that demanded she be in shape.
"The outfit was incredible tight, but it looked fantastic, but it's quite painful to wear, but worth it," Miller told Reuters.
While some fans gathered around the Hollywood actors, many Japanese fans were there to see South Korean Byung Hun Lee - who has become one of Asian cinemas biggest stars.
He gained his fame in Japan through various Korean drama series as well as romance and action films.
Lee, who is still new to the Hollywood mega movie scene, says his role was worth the challenge.
"I had such new experiences through this film. It was demanding in a way but certainly challenging since I tried my best to play my character, which was different from any other movies I've done. I had a blast," said Lee.
The intermittent rain later turned into a storm, but that did not keep the fans from screaming in their rain coats, ponchos and boots.
Team "G.I. Joe" finally gathered on a stage to celebrate the premiere once again.
"Hello Japan, how yall doing out there? Thank you all for being here in the rain I appreciated! Arigato!" shouted Tatum as the fans continued to scream and shout.
Lee, who has been to Japan on multiple occasions, introduced himself in Japanese.
"Hello everyone in Japan, my name is Byung Hun Lee, thank you all for coming," said Lee making the crowd scream once again.
The film is directed by Stephen Sommers, who is known for his live-action films "The Mummy" and "Van Helsing". Other cast members include Ray Park, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Said Taghmaoui and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, just to name a few.
"Rise of the Fallen" cost the studio 170 million U.S. dollars and Paramount, who also produced another summer blockbuster "Transformers: Rise of the Fallen", are hoping to replicate the success, with the plans to develop "G.I. Joe" into a franchise.
"G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" hits cinemas in the United States, Japan and Britain on August 7. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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