The upcomingG.I. Joe/Transformerscrossover moviehas a great opportunity to bring back the original Storm Shadow actor in the iconic role.Following severalG.I. Joemoviesacross the decades finding mixed success, the franchise is in a delicate place. The next installment will need to be careful with how it handles the material.
Fortunately, the promise of a crossover could be the best way to revitalize the series. Theending ofTransformers: Rise of the Beaststeased a future film withG.I. Joecharacters, althoughthere has thus far been little movement on the new film.What the exact direction of the movie will be then remains to be seen.
The upcoming crossover could serve as a reboot to theG.I. Joeseries, but it would be better if they incorporated elements of what came before. SeeingChanning Tatum’s Duke come back after being killed, or having Dwayne Johnson’s Roadblock appear, could be great additions.One other South Korean actor, however, would be the best possible inclusion,especially now.
Some ofLee Byung-hun’s most interesting moviessaw the actor playing Storm Shadow.He appeared as the iconic white-clothed ninja inG.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobraas well as its sequel,G.I. Joe: Retaliation.While both of these films had a mixed response, Lee’s turn as the villain, who slowly became an antihero, was mostly praised.
Named Thomas Arashikage,the films gave significant focus to the relationship between Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes.The two shared a dark past, where Shadow was blamed for the death of Hard Master by Snake Eyes. This murder is later revealed to have been by Zartan, but it creates an excellent tension between Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes.
Throughout the films,this relationship is dissected, making it one of the most interesting aspects of the stories.Eventually, the two find a balance, and Storm Shadow is given the opportunity for revenge against Zartan. Following up on this relationship, and seeing a more heroic antihero version of the character, could be a great path forward.
Audiences Are Rediscovering Lee Byung-hun’s Portrayal As Storm Shadow
That’s Thanks To Squid Game
Lee Byung-hun is a strong actor with many credits to his name, butthe actor has recently found great popularity after his turn as the Front ManinNetflix’s record-breakingSquid Game. The series recently came to an end, which has driven many viewers to seek out other performances from Lee.
In addition to providing a voice to the recentKPop Demon Hunters, and appearing in blockbusters includingThe Magnificent SevenandTerminator Genisys,Lee is perhaps best known in Hollywood for hisG.I. Joerole.Many audiences have been rediscovering the strengths of his excellent performance in those films.
Could Lee Byung-hun Return As Storm Shadow In A Future G.I. Joe Movie?
It’s Complicated
There is certainly a possibility of Lee returning to the role, but there are several complications. First, the character has already been recast withAndrew Koji inG.I. Joe: Snake Eyes. Second,the status of a newG.I. Joemovie is uncertain,with there having been little movement on theTransformerscrossover.
More importantly, however,Lee may not wish to return to the role.He has struggled in Hollywood over the years. WhileVarietycaught up with him early in his career, even then, Lee spoke about the difficulty and nerves surrounding work in the industry, especially as a Korean actor:
The two moments that I felt the most nervous in my entire life were: when I first had reading rehearsal for ‘G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra’; and when I was at the Academy Awards ceremony.
Lee has less incentive than ever to return to Hollywood work. There have been difficult experiences spoken about by many East Asian actors, andthe opportunity for international products to break through is now much greater, especially after the success ofParasiteandSquid Game.Lee may not feel the need to return to English-language stories.
Transformers G.I. Joe Movie Is Still The Best Opportunity For Lee Byung-hun’s Storm Shadow Return
Especially Since Andrew Koji Is Moving Forward With Another Big Franchise
The story of theG.I. Joe/Transformerscrossover is not entirely clear about whichG.I. Joeuniverse it will connect to.However, Andrew Koji is currently busy after hiscasting inStreet Fighter, and the film might be best set up for success if it connects to the previous installments in the series.
$34 million
$375 million
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
$302 million
Especially afterthe box-office performance ofSnake Eyesmade less than 10% of whatRetaliationearned at only $34 million,audiences would be more likely to be familiar with the iterations from the previous films. Bringing back Lee could be a great way to connect the stories and follow up on the growth of his character.
AfterSquid Game, Lee will certainly have his pick of projects. However, as it stands,the actor appears to be available for a franchise role like this. Bringing him back as the character, and allowing Storm Shadow to play a larger, more central role in the new crossover film could be the most appealing option.
Doing this wouldallow the franchise to continue to build on one of its most iconic and developed characters, while fleshing out the larger universe. Putting these figures alongside characters from theTransformersuniverse, including Noah Diaz, could be a great way to start. Lee Byung-hun would be among the most exciting potential additions to theG.I. Joe/Transformerscrossover movie.
