At this present time, there are potentially dozens of actors who are hoping that they have some kind of realistic chance to succeed Daniel Craig as the next James Bond. The franchise is making moves forward, with Denis Villeneuve recently tapped to helm the next film with a new 007, and that means that it probably won't be too long before we learn who will be the movie's leading man. But while many stars are hoping to get the gig, Henry Golding evidently isn't one of them, as he seems to have no interest in taking on a role with so much pressure riding on it.

Amid the recent news about the next James Bond movie, People caught up with Golding on the red carpet for the premiere of Netflix's The Old Guard 2 in Los Angeles, and when he was asked about playing the world's most famous super spy, he didn't hold back. The Another Simple Plan star told the reporter,

The benefits of playing James Bond are obvious. It's a way to become an instant part of pop culture history; it's a gig that provides some nice job security (George Lazenby's single appearance in the franchise notwithstanding); there is a nice paycheck; and you get millions of fans around the globe excited to see what you can do with a beloved character. That all comes with the hefty baggage of expectation and judgement, however, and some people just aren't built to handle that kind of pressure, which I get.

For Henry Golding, playing 007 would be a lot, and he says he would instead be more comfortable with a less spotlight-y part in the franchise – perhaps a spy with a different 00 designation. The actor added,

It's a reasonable point. One of the big things for an actor taking on a classic character like James Bond is that the audience already has an image in their head of what they expect them to be like – and if that image isn't fully realized on the big screen, they have a tendency to be unhappy. Playing a role with zero history means zero baggage... though Golding admitted that he might just be a bit pusillanimous:

Fans continue to wait for the big news about the next James Bond, and when the announcement does finally arrive, you can be sure that we here on CinemaBlend will be writing about it quite a lot. And as for Henry Golding, you can see a lot of his recent work if you have access to multiple streaming platforms. Amazon Prime subscribers can see him reprise his role as Sean Townsend in the aforementioned Another Simple Favor starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively; those with Hulu accounts can see him as part of the ensemble in Nine Perfect Strangers Season 2; and those who are signed up for Netflix can soon see him in The Old Guard 2, which will be debuting on July 2.

For many different reasons, joy seems somewhat difficult to come by on an average day. However, something that made millions of film fans light up in 2018 was one of the best romantic comedies, Crazy Rich Asians. Word about a sequel to the ever-popular movie began nearly as soon as the rom-com took over the box office, but work on the project has stalled several times. Now, star Henry Golding has noted that “things are in motion” with the sequel, and I hope his wish for Jon M. Chu comes true.

What Did Crazy Rich Asians Star Henry Golding Say About The Sequel And Jon M. Chu?

For many (many) months after Crazy Rich Asians (which stars Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, and Michelle Yeoh among many others) debuted and became the biggest rom-com in almost a decade, all people could talk about was China Rich Girlfriend. Based on the second book in Kevin Kwan’s novel series, the proposed big-screen follow-up was announced mere days after the first movie hit theaters, but getting concrete details settled on the who, when, where, why and how of the movie has been a long time coming.

While speaking with E! News recently, though, Another Simple Favor star Henry Golding was asked about progress on the highly anticipated film, and said:

WOW. This is really good news, but, man. I feel like we’ve heard this before. When China Rich Girlfriend was announced, it was noted that Chiarelli and Lim were back on board to co-write, with the director of the original film, Jon M. Chu, set to return to his position, as well. Unfortunately, it was roughly a year later that word of an unequal pay dispute led to Lim leaving the movie (which Chu supported).

The production then searched for another writer of Asian heritage, but eventually circled back to Lim, though she turned them down again, and late March 2022 saw Amy Wang set to pen the story. Golding didn’t confirm whether or not the script is still being handled by Wang, but Lim (who previously directed one of 2023’s funniest movies, Joy Ride, and is set to direct Princess Diaries 3) appears to be on board to direct. And, that leaves us wondering about the involvement of Jon M. Chu.

As Golding noted, Chu and Lim are actually both currently working on a Crazy Rich Asians series for Max, with Lim as showrunner and both executive producing. But, the In the Heights director is not, apparently, currently on board to play any part in the production of the film sequel. After noting that Nina Jacobson (who’s also exec producing the TV show) has returned to help produce the new movie, Golding added:

Honestly, with Chu helping out on the show, I doubt that he wouldn’t take some part in helping to get the sequel off of the ground, finally. It makes sense that he wouldn’t have a lot of time to devote to directing the movie, as his blockbuster success with Wicked last year will be followed up by Wicked: For Good, which is set to hit the 2025 movie schedule on November 21. So, let’s all hope that as he’s prepping that musical for theaters, he has some spare time to contribute his particular brand of movie-making magic to the Crazy Rich Asians sequel!

I've been so excited for the release of Another Simple Favor ever since it was announced the sequel was being made, and in just two weeks, This upcoming 2025 movie will be in our households via Amazon Prime. Ahead of its early May release, Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively reunited in London for a special screening of the film, and I can’t take my eyes off them both showing out in black fits!

During their appearances in England alongside director Paul Feig and co-star Henry Golding, the Another Simple Favor leads donned black, but in completely different ways. Check out their sleek looks:

Lively and Kendrick look like they totally coordinated their fits (even though we have no idea if they did), but their specific pieces bring out their own sense of style. Lively had on a leather jacket dress with a long flowing skirt, while Kendrick went for a lacy two-piece sheer dress that gives the kind of classic feminine, frilly fashion that the actress is known for. Inversely, Lively’s attire does kind of fit into the villain vibe of her Simple Favor character.

I absolutely love seeing these co-stars together again after things got awkward at the SXSW premiere, especially considering it was Lively's first appearance since the Justin Baldoni legal situation she’s been in following It Ends With Us. In Another Simple Favor, the actresses are joined by Andrew Rannells, Allison Janney, Jean Smart and Alex Newell.

I’m obviously living for these two looks, but more than anything, I love the presence of director Paul Feig, who is holding up a martini for the press photo. It’s the best energy he can have given all the rumors that have been circulating around his leading actresses. Also, martinis are a whole big thing in A Simple Favor and, surely, Another Simple Favor. He also just looks too cool in that marvelous navy suit that seems to be coordinated with the poster for Another Simple Favor. Obsessed!

Another Simple Favor is coming out seven years after the original movie, which was such a fun twisty mystery from the director of Bridesmaids. But this time around, Kendrick’s Stephanie has been invited by Lively’s Emily to her lavish wedding in Capri, Italy to be her maid of honor. From what reactions have come out so far, there’s more murder and twists this time around, too! Those who have seen it already have called it everything from “utter nonsense” to “divinely twisted” and “satisfying”.

Particularly, a lot of first viewers have spoken to the amazing fashion throughout the movie, too. We’ll of course have to see for ourselves when the movie drops on Amazon Prime on May 1.

Some actors excel in dramas, others in action flicks; but there are also others whose best work happens to be in some of the best romantic comedies of all time. Nothing against Hugh Grant, Meg Ryan, or Colin Firth’s more dramatic or action-oriented work, but let’s be real for a second and admit that Four Weddings and a Funeral, When Harry Met Sally, and Bridget Jones’s Diary, as well as their other work in the genre, is why they’re so beloved.

That said, here are 32 actors whose best roles are rom-coms…

Hugh Grant

With movies like Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually, and Bridget Jones’s Diary to his name (and many, many more), it’s no wonder Hugh Grant’s name comes up rather frequently when discussing the best rom-coms ever made. Sure, his work in Paddington 2 and Remains of the Day is great, but the man knows how to anchor a romantic comedy with that signature charm and wit.

Renée Zellweger

Sure, Renée Zellweger won her two Oscars in dramas – Cold Mountain and Judy – but that doesn’t mean those were her best roles. Again, they were both great, but don’t hold a candle to her work as the titular character in Bridget Jones’s Diary or her star-making performance in Jerry Maguire. More than 20 years after first playing those iconic characters, Zellweger’s work is still received with heaps of praise.

Julia Roberts

One of the queens of the ‘90s rom-com, Julia Roberts bookended the final decade of the 20th century with legendary performances in Pretty Woman and Notting Hill. Those roles, which should be revisited annually if we’re being honest, helped pave the way for Roberts’ stellar career.

Meg Ryan

It’s impossible to put together a list of Meg Ryan’s best movies and not include the likes of When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, and You’ve Got Mail, to name a few. The rom-com mainstay, who shared the screen with Tom Hanks, Billy Crystal, and Kevin Kline over the years, has given us unforgettable moments and more beloved characters than just about anyone.

Cameron Diaz

My Best Friend’s Wedding, There’s Something About Mary, The Holiday, The Sweetest Thing, and countless other romantic comedies made Cameron Diaz one of the biggest stars of the past 30 years. The actress has shown off her more dramatic roles in everything from Any Given Sunday and Being John Malkovich, but her performances in those rom-coms can’t be touched.

Drew Barrymore

Long before Drew Barrymore became one of the premier names in the world of daytime talk shows, she held it down in the rom-com circuit. Fever Pitch, Never Been Kissed, 50 First Dates, and The Wedding Singer are just some of Barrymore’s best romantic comedies. And while she does have a killer scene in the opening minutes of Scream, these are her most memorable performances.

Colin Firth

As much as we love watching Colin Firth play Mr. Darcy in Pride & Prejudice, his more modern take on the character in Bridget Jones’s Diary is the stuff of legend. Firth, a tremendous dramatic actor in his own right, has been a staple of the romantic comedy over the years thanks in part to those Bridget Jones movies, Mamma Mia!, and Love Actually. However, don’t let this take away from the greatness of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy or The King’s Speech.

Billy Crystal

When Harry Met Sally is one of the first movies to come to mind whenever the topic of hilarious Billy Crystal movies comes up. Filled with some of the funniest lines (and others filled with heartbreak and emotion), Crystal’s work in the rom-com genre is absolutely fantastic, be it movies like America’s Sweethearts or Forget Paris. And The Princess Bride sort of counts, right?

Cary Grant

Few Hollywood leading men have a resume as great as Cary Grant, an actor who appeared in dozens of romantic comedies over the years. Charade, The Philadelphia Story, Holiday, and so many others have long cemented Grant’s place in the annuls of rom-com history, and those hilarious and heartfelt performances are still cherished many years after his death.

Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin was the king of the silent film and an actor who could do anything from drama to slapstick to romantic comedy better than just about every single one of his contemporaries. Chaplin’s 1931 rom-com, City Lights, helped define the genre and has been a benchmark for nearly 100 years.

Nia Long

Nia Long has so many great movies to her name, including Friday, Boyz n the Hood, Big Momma’s House, and Soul Food. This also includes some all-time great romantic comedies from the ‘90s like Love Jones, The Best Man, and Hav Plenty. Though her name doesn’t come up as much as it should, Long is still in a league of her own.

Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton won an Oscar for her titular in Woody Allen’s Annie Hall, but the talented actress has several other iconic rom-coms to her name. Something’s Gotta Give, Manhattan, The Family Stone, and Baby Boom all show off the incredible skill and nuance of this once-in-a-generation actress. And this is coming from someone who thinks The Godfather is one of the top five movies of all time.

Audrey Hepburn

Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Charade, Sabrina, Roman Holiday, and My Fair Lady are all some of the funniest movies of the 20th century, and all happen to feature the unmatched talent of Audrey Hepburn in iconic roles. The late actress had a great number of dramatic roles over the years, but her charm and charisma seen in these rom-coms made her one of the all-time greats.

Constance Wu

Constance Wu has all kinds of great film and TV roles on her resume, but for some, she’ll always be remembered for her portrayal of Rachel Chu in Crazy Rich Asians. The massively popular romantic comedy about a Chinese-American NYU professor learning her boyfriend is a member of the richest and most powerful family in Singapore still hits more than a half-decade after its release.

Richard Gere

Though Richard Gere has killed it in dramas like An Officer and a Gentleman and musicals like Chicago, those performances don’t hold a candle to, at least culturally, to his role as Edward Lewis in Pretty Woman. Gere and co-star Julia Roberts would rekindle that spark less than a decade later with another great rom-com, Runaway Bride.

Reese Witherspoon

The Importance of Being Earnest, Sweeet Home Alabama, and Legally Blonde all allowed Reese Witherspoon to show off comedic skills in romantic comedies, and those roles remain some of her best. Sure, she won an Oscar for Walk the Line, but there’s no touching Elle Woods.

Henry Golding

Henry Golding had already had some success by the time he was cast as the uber-wealthy Nick Young in Crazy Rich Asians, but his performance in the 2018 romantic comedy sent him to the next level. He’s found success in movies like The Gentlemen and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare since then, but his rom-com performance is still his best.

Eva Mendes

Eva Mendes has long killed it in comedies, romance movies, and romantic comedies. Take Hitch for example. The 2005 rom-com starring Will Smith as a professional “date doctor” who meets his match in Mendes’ character was so much fun and allowed the actress to show off all of her skills in a fun and meaningful way.

Sandra Bullock

While You Were Sleeping, Hope Floats, The Proposal, and Two Weeks Notice are just a few of Sandra Bullock’s all-time great romantic comedies. The Academy Award-winning actress has long been one of the best to attempt the genre, and she’ll have a long-lasting legacy because of those strong, vulnerable, and incredibly relatable characters.

Michael Ealy

Over the years, Michael Ealy has put together a crazy good filmography, one that is filled with medical dramas and thrillers, action flicks and comedies, etc. But let’s not forget all the great work he’s done in the world of romantic comedies. Kissing Jessica Stein, Think Like a Man, and About Last Night have all shown what the talented actor is working with.

Adam Sandler

Though not the prototypical romantic lead, there are so many great Adam Sandler rom-coms out there. From The Wedding Singer to Punch-Drunk Love and 50 First Dates to Spanglish there’s so much variety and fun to be had with his stellar filmography.

Jennifer Garner

13 Going on 30, anyone? Jennifer Garner became one of the queens of the rom-com with the release of her 2004 comedy about a young girl who is transformed into a 30-year-old magazine editor and undergoes a massive transformation (both physically and emotionally). She’s also appeared in other great comedies of the era like Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and Love, Simon, to name a few.

Woody Allen

Woody Allen’s monologue in the opening minutes of Manhattan is honestly one of the best cinematic moments of the ‘70s and features some of Allen’s best writing. That’s saying something considering the writer-director-actor has been a part of so many great rom-coms over the years. Annie Hall, Midnight in Paris, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and Hannah and her Sisters have made us laugh, cry, and feel everything in between over the past 50-plus years.

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway’s name doesn’t come up in the rom-com discussion as much as it should, which is a shame considering the Oscar-winning actress has killed it in movies like The Princess Diaries, Ella Enchanted, Love & Other Drugs, and so many others. Yeah, she was great in Interstellar and Les Misérables, but there’s no denying her performances in these romantic comedies.

Morris Chestnut

Okay, Morris Chestnut was AMAZING in Boyz n the Hood with his portrayal of Ricky Baker, but the man has become a legend in the rom-com game over the past few decades. Two Can Play That Game, The Best Man, The Brothers, The Perfect Holiday, Breakin’ All the Rules are all classics, thanks in no small part to Chestnut’s performances.

Rachel McAdams

Rachel McAdams’ career has been full of swirling tales of romance like The Notebook, The Vow, and Disobedience, but some of her best work has been in romantic comedies. Wedding Crashers and Midnight in Paris quickly come to mind, but her best performance can be found in About Time, an incredibly emotional and hilarious story of love, loss, and second chances.

John Cusack

Look at the best John Cusack movies and you’ll see iconic rom-coms like High Fidelity, Say Anything, Serendipity, Better Off Dead, and America’s Sweethearts. The vulnerability and likeability of the Hollywood star have made those movies, and the beloved characters he plays in each of them, such gems over the years.

Kate Hudson

Kate Hudson is amazing when it comes to roles in romantic comedies, and few could come close to her batting average in the early-to-mid 2000s. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, My Best Friend’s Girl, Something Borrowed, and A Little Bit of Heaven all come to mind in this regard.

Taye Diggs

Taye Diggs has done it all, but he’s excelled tremendously in the rom-com world. Movies like The Wood, The Best Man, Brown Sugar, and How Stella Got Her Groove Back have shown just how charming and funny the classically trained actor can be.

Ben Stiller

Though an unlikely leading man in the realm of romantic comedies, Ben Still has long excelled in the genre. Over the years, we’ve had sensational comedies like There’s Something About Mary, Along Came Polly, Keeping the Faith, and even Reality Bites that have allowed the comedian-actor-writer-director to show off what he’s working with, and it’s been great all along.

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston will always be remembered for her portrayal of Rachel Green on Friends, but let’s not forget that she has also been a longtime staple of the romantic comedy genre. The Break-up, Wanderlust, Just Go With It, The Switch, Rumor Has It, and several others have been perfect movies for Aniston to show off her skills.

Patrick Dempsey

From Can’t Buy Me Love to Made of Honor and everything in between, Patrick Dempsey has been a tour de force in the world of romantic comedies. He’s done great work on TV and in big-screen dramas over the years, but he particularly excels in the rom-com genre.

History is about to come alive again on the 2024 movie schedule, as director Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is an action/adventure film that looks to cover a part of World War II not widely discussed. With this covert ops movie drawing the likes of Argylle’s Henry Cavill and Reacher himself Alan Ritchson into the cast, things already sound like they’re going to be quite explosive on the big screen. 

As Ritchie seems to be in full on can’t stop/won’t stop mode at this phase in his career, those action notables aren’t the end to this film’s impressive roster. So it’s time to take a look at the rest of the crew ready to set Europe ablaze for king and country in this movie based on author Damien Lewis' book of the same name. 

Let's start with those two gents we’ve already mentioned before moving onto the rest of the recruits lined up to do the job. Trust me, you're going to be blown away by who else is part of this would-be wrecking crew.

Henry Cavill

For someone who’s been hotly tipped as one of the best prospects to become the new face of the James Bond movies, Henry Cavill has certainly stacked his plate with espionage-adjacent credits. Mentioned by name in the trailer for The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, Cavill is playing the on-screen version of special operations veteran Gus March-Phillipps.

Most notably, Cavill's previous teaming with Guy Ritchie on The Man From U.N.C.L.E speaks to that sort of endeavor. That's probably part of how the actor reunited with Ritchie to tackle a more grounded espionage caper. What’s more, the two are set for yet another movie, which, according to Deadline wrapped production in early 2024. Previously, Henry was also seen stretching his spy muscles as the titular lead to Matthew Vaughn’s Argylle.

Alan Ritchson

Actor Alan Ritchson looks like he’s a man that could double as a mountain. With an impressive stature, the man has been the star of Prime Video subscription holders’ screens thanks to his lead role in the Reacher series. According to the actor's Instagram, Ritchson is playing the cinematic version of real life World War II hero Anders Lassen.

Also seen testing his might against Vin Diesel in Fast X, as well as playing a major role in the DC Comics series Titans, Ritchson is now heading to the front to do some damage. You can practically hear the witty repartee between Alan Ritchson and Henry Cavill, but there are plenty of other conversation partners waiting to take a crack as you'll see in the rest of the cast assembled.

Eiza González

Another veteran of the Fast Saga universe, Eiza González’s Hobbs and Shaw character is still waiting to resurface within the vast continuum of figures hiding in those particular shadows. But keeping her busy in the meantime is her unknown character in this new Guy Ritchie action/history extravaganza.

González can also be seen on the 2024 TV schedule, as she’s also part of the cast for Netflix’s series adaptation of author Liu Cixin’s sci-fi novel series 3 Body Problem. Making things all the more exciting, Eiza has already re-teamed with Mr. Ritchie, as well as Henry Cavill! The Godzilla vs. Kong star can be seen soon in an untitled action movie that should be The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare director's next release.

Alex Pettyfer

As a once and former Alex Rider in Stormbreaker, actor Alex Pettyfer started his career as a cinematic spy right from frame one. Pettyfer would branch out through various genres, thanks to films like In Time and Magic Mike granting him the opportunity. More recently, the Beastly actor also made his directorial debut through the 2018 movie Back Roads. 

Hero Fiennes Tiffin

Playing the role of young Tom Marvolo Riddle/Voldemort in 2009’s Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Hero Fiennes Tiffin made quite the impression, although most would best remember Tiffin as Hardin Scott, the male lead in the After series. The nephew of M himself, Ralph Fiennes, Hero’s casting in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is yet another interesting coincidence in the young actor’s career. 

Babs Olusanmokun 

If you’re a loyal viewer of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, then you’ve definitely seen Babs Olusanmokun before. Playing the role of the mysterious Dr. Joseph M’Benga on the Paramount+ exclusive series, his ship physician character helps keep the Enterprise running at full steam. But outside of that particular role, Olusanmokun is also a veteran Guy Ritchie performer, as he was featured in the Jason Statham revenge thriller Wrath of Man. 

Henrique Zaga

Also credited as Henry Zaga, this Brazilian actor might best be known as Roberto da Costa/Sunspot, one of the Marvel-adjacent characters featured in the infamously postponed The New Mutants. On top of those credits, Zaga has also made a name for himself in the streaming world, as part of the casts to Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why and Apple TV+’s The Crowded Room. 

Til Schweiger

Actor Til Schweiger’s experience in World War II filmmaking is perhaps one of the most notable in this entire cast list. That’s not knocking anyone else present in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’s lineup, but when you have something like Inglourious Basterds’ Hugo Stigliz on your resume, that’s kind of a huge calling card. Schweiger's work in espionage pictures can also be seen in his role of The Watchmaker, a part in one of the best action movies in recent years: Charlize Theron’s Atomic Blonde.

Henry Golding

Another previous member of the Guy Ritchie company, Henry Golding was last seen working with the director on the 2020 crime comedy The Gentleman. Keeping his action credentials sharp through pictures like the G.I. Joe spin-off Snake Eyes, Golding’s spot on the Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare roster further bolsters the combat cred present among the cast. Henry has also been cast in The Old Guard 2, joining action vets Charlize Theron and Uma Thurman for that Netflix-bound sequel.

Cary Elwes

Re-teaming after their previous work on Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, Cary Elwes and Guy Ritchie are back at it again with The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. A legendary actor who’s held landmark roles in projects ranging from The Princess Bride to Saw, Elwes has been keeping his espionage skills up to date thanks to his recent part in the Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning cast. 

That’s a lot of people to get to know in what seems like a short time, but don’t worry. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is slated to hit theaters on April 19th, so you have plenty of time to prepare. Though you should keep an eye on this cast list, as any major additions to the roster will be reported as they happen. 

It often feels like rom-coms are a dime a dozen, but the truth is that the best romantic comedies are ones built on several things. Fans of the genre enjoy snappy dialogue, inventive and/or realistic complications for the central couple, a swoon-worthy love story, and, of course, main characters portrayed by actors who have more than enough on-screen chemistry to make all of those pieces come together. 

What’s great about romantic comedies is that we’ve gotten more than enough couples like this over the past two plus decades, but some of them have either only partnered one time (which, granted, may be because their pairing is still relatively new), or haven’t been in a film together for many years now. So, let’s take a look at the (mostly) rom-com partners that we really think should make another movie together!

Meg Ryan And Tom Hanks

This duo probably feels like a no-brainer to you, and, well, it should! Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks have memorably joined forces for two rom-com hits, Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail, plus the 1990 cult favorite romantic comedy, Joe Versus the Volcano, so there’s no reason for them not to really round things out with a fourth film. I’d be down for a second chance romance where they learn to love again, wouldn’t you?

Diane Keaton And Keanu Reeves 

Yes, yes… Already I’m cheating here, but only a tiny bit. While the magnetic on-screen coupling of Diane Keaton and Keanu Reeves wasn’t the main focus of Something’s Gotta Give, I have spent the past 20 years wishing they were. So, let's get these adorably crazy kids back together! They could play any kind of couple (bickering marrieds who are clearly still hot for each other, two folks who shouldn’t get together but can’t help themselves, etc.) and I’d be in the theater on opening night.

Lana Condor And Noah Centineo

Honestly, there might not be a cuter couple on this list. The dreamy teen romance movie pairing of Lana Condor and Noah Centineo was, obviously, gifted to everyone with a Netflix subscription in the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy, and there’s a reason that so many people fell head over heels for them. These two sorta sparkle together on screen, and I’d love to see them reunite in a romance (or any comedy) that’s got more of an adult edge to it.

Alison Brie And Jason Sudeikis

We all adore it when a rom-com gives us something different, and 2015’s Sleeping with Other People does just that with its story of friends who openly acknowledge their sexual tension, but purposely avoid doing anything about it so as to not screw up what they have. Alison Brie and Ted Lasso cast lead Jason Sudeikis are amazing as the friends in question, and I’d love to see them bring their casual, but still sexy, chemistry to another film. 

Jenny Slate And Jake Lacy

A true pleasure of watching Obvious Child was seeing the relationship between Jenny Slate and Jake Lacy’s characters develop as she has trouble revealing that she’s getting an abortion several weeks after their one-night stand. They work great as a duo with a clear attraction that’s impeded by a secret, and we’d really appreciate it if we could watch him warm her butter and make her tea in a movie that sees them as fully coupled characters.

Constance Wu And Henry Golding

I cannot tell a lie; some of the reason for Constance Wu and Henry Golding making the list is simply because we are all dying for the Crazy Rich Asians sequel we’ve been promised for several years now. While we wait, I’m hoping we can at least get those two into another fun rom-com where he can bring his posh, suave energy to meet her adorably spunky, girl-next-door verve.

Emma Stone And Ryan Gosling

What’s not to love about Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, especially when they star opposite each other in a romantic story? They were sweet, sexy, bantery, and slightly goofy together in Crazy, Stupid, Love, then had all of that with more emotional depth in La La Land, and also had the same chemistry in Gangster Squad, but with an added veneer of danger. It’s been a rough few years; the world needs more of their exact thing, OK?

Kate Hudson And Matthew McConaughey

I know, I know! Matthew McConaughey doesn’t make rom-coms anymore, but that’s honestly no reason why he can’t re-team with Kate Hudson, 20 years after they first hit the screen together in How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days. The engaging push-and-pull of their romance in that film can easily be translated to, say, a movie where each is portraying a lawyer on the opposite side of a big murder case. There! Someone make that movie!

Queen Latifah And Common

Just Wright might not be the first movie you think of when it comes to Queen Latifah or romantic comedies, but it’s hard to deny that watching her play off of Common as they slowly go from not-quite-enemies to lovers was a genuine treat. Now all we need is the right vehicle for them so their individual easygoing charm can show us how well-matched they are on screen.

Jennifer Garner And Mark Ruffalo

There’s a reason that 13 Going On 30 is still so popular almost two decades later. That reason is Jennifer Garner’s joyful, weirdo energy as a teen suddenly transplanted to her adult life, sure, but it’s also how Mark Ruffalo calmly reconnects with the childhood friend he’d long ago lost touch with. They're just sweet together, OK? We saw them in The Adam Project. We need more!

Sandra Bullock And Channing Tatum

The luminous and hilarious pairing of Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum was definitely not on my rom-com bingo card, but damn, it was a joy to behold once we got it. In The Lost City, they were perfect as a starchy and grieving romance novelist and her incredibly sweet but somewhat dim cover model who get caught in a life-or-death situation in the jungle, and all I can hope for is that we someday have a sequel to enjoy.

Billy Eichner And Luke Macfarlane

If an opposites attract energy is your thing, there’s no way for you not to enjoy the pairing of Billy Eichner and Luke Macfarlane. The Bros stars only just met up on screen in 2022, but we’d love to see them reunite in a rom-com that switches Eichner’s intense characterization and Macfarlane’s laid-back vibe around for additional laughs.

Meg Ryan And Hugh Jackman

Kate & Leopold is the rare romance where Meg Ryan’s character is less than sweet for much of the film, but watching her early ‘00s driven career woman begin to soften with the attentions of Hugh Jackman’s fancy man from the 1870s was a delight. Now if we can just get them to play off of one another when both are from the modern day, all will be right in the world.

Anne Hathaway And Chris Pine

We all know that The Princess Diaries 2 is so beloved that fans have wanted to bring the cast back for the now in development third movie for nearly 20 years, and part of that was because of the sweet, (sorta) slow burn love story between Anne Hathaway and Chris Pine’s characters. While everyone would love to see them as a long-married couple in a sequel, we’d also take them as, oh, I don’t know, bickering co-workers who can’t deny their attraction, so let’s stop stalling and get this coupling back on the big screen!

Julia Roberts And Hugh Grant

Look, I know that Hugh Grant is fully in his slimy villain era right now and is hilariously against even attempting rom-coms again. But! I think that makes the potential of this Notting Hill pairing coming back together even more appealing. Let him play a con-man who tricks Julia Roberts into falling in love, only to steal all her money and force her to track him down with a hilarious vengeance. I’d buy a ticket for that, OK?

Jennifer Lopez And George Clooney

Sure, sure. I’m cheating this entry a bit because, technically, Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney didn't star in a traditional rom-com together, but who among us can deny that they were HOT in Out of Sight? No one, that’s who! I say we get these two into a proper romantic comedy, but maybe one that’s not another Lopez wedding movie, just to switch things up.

Sanaa Lathan And Omar Epps 

Yes, this is another, more direct, fudging of this article’s concept, because Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps were a romantic drama pairing in Love & Basketball… but they were SO GOOD TOGETHER. Watching them play out a long-term path to eventual happiness was extremely satisfying, but maybe this time we can use that chemistry of theirs for a couple that has more good times than stressful ones.

Cristin Milioti And Andy Samberg

The chances that Cristin Milioti and Andy Samberg will strike time loop movie gold again after Palm Springs is incredibly unlikely, and we wouldn’t want them to try. Instead, why not let these two portray criminals on the run for separate crimes who accidentally cross paths and fall in love while they’re on the lam? They can give us that same adorably wacky enthusiasm that we all loved the first time around that way!

Kristen Stewart And Aubrey Plaza

If you saw Happiest Season, then you saw the undeniable spark between Kristen Stewart and Aubrey Plaza as their characters (Who weren’t even dating!) dealt with a lot of toxicity during Christmastime. They managed to genuinely bond (and look great doing it) over their similar relationship trauma, so I say we go ahead and give these two an even bubblier romantic comedy where they can actually freakin’ end up as a couple! 

Gemma Chan And Harry Shum Jr. 

Obviously, we didn’t get a real romance between the characters played by Gemma Chan and Harry Shum Jr. in Crazy Rich Asians, but the movie sure did set up the promise of fulfilling the epic love story that was a part of Kevin Kwan’s novel trilogy. Fans got a very brief scene of them looking all cute and dreamy with each other and dancing during the mid-credits scene, so hear me now: WE NEED THAT ASTRID AND CHARLIE SPINOFF, ASAP!

Issa Rae And Kumail Nanjiani

It may be hard to cast two people who have perfect romantic chemistry, but it could be even harder to find a duo who can portray the first glorious blush of falling in love, that same couple once they’ve begun to fall apart, and then play them as they start to get closer… because they’re on the run after being accused of murder. Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani are those people, and we’ve been wanting them back on screen since The Lovebirds to do something just as crazy and rom-commy again.

Reese Witherspoon And Josh Lucas

If you’re looking for a bickering duo who are hot together no matter what, that’s Sweet Home Alabama’s Reese Witherspoon and Josh Lucas, for sure. I’m sure they’d be great doing anything on screen, but also doubt anyone would mind if they paired for a story that would let them fight (and fight through) their attraction until they finally admit their feelings for each other.

Rachel McAdams And Domhnall Gleeson

You know what’s coming, right? After being apart for a decade, it’s About Time that Rachel McAdams and Domhnall Gleeson join forces again to bring fans another lovey dovey couple, and we don’t even care what the set up is!

Sarah Hyland And Tyler James Williams

Never has it been more enjoyable to watch a woman who’s not sure about the whole marriage thing date a man who’s very much ready for a long-term commitment than in The Wedding Year, and that was because of the well-matched chemistry/comedic energy of Sarah Hyland and Tyler James Williams. I think these two would be fantastic in an action/adventure rom-com like The Lost City!

Kristen Bell And Dustin Milligan 

Though Kristen Bell and Dustin Milligan starred in The People We Hate at the Wedding, which was more of a straight ahead comedy, they had a definite romantic comedy storyline and played off of each other beautifully. I’m imagining a cinematic rematch for them that involves both of their characters being messy and a bit angry this time, and I think they’ll be a delight to watch once again.

Vivian Oparah And David Jonsson

Even though Vivian Oparah and David Jonsson are a very new rom-com pairing, as their starring vehicle, Rye Lane, debuted in early 2023, there’s no doubting the fizzy joy one gets from watching their characters meet cute and end up slowly becoming attracted to each other over the course of one eventful day. These two can do anything together next, but I don’t think anyone would mind a sequel where we get to see this romance progress!

If nothing else, while we wait to see if these rom-com partners get back together on the big screen, we can all at least go back and enjoy the amazing films they’ve already given us!

The first thing you need in my opinion to make a great rom-com is a pair of actors with great chemistry. If the leads don’t vibe, the audience won’t jive. The common denominator among all the best rom-coms of all time is a couple of actors who have fantastic chemistry and complement each other beautifully. So, with Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey’s iconic rom-com, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days celebrating its 20th anniversary, and with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, and lots of rom-coms on the 2023 movie schedule, we thought we’d look back at some legendary acting duos who really need to make another romantic comedy together. 

Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey 

Talk about a duo that just oozes charm and chemistry. Both Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey are two of the most charismatic, charming and outgoing actors working right now, in my opinion, and it felt inevitable that they’d end up in a rom-com together. I think McConaughey said it best in a live stream on Hudson’s Instagram, when he described their personalities and chemistry in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days like this:

Hudson then said they are both “free” and “spontaneous” souls which allowed them to play on set back in 2003, and they really found their funny and electric chemistry. So, I’m so happy McConaughey took the role after an interaction with a psychic, because it’s hard to imagine anyone other than the two of them playing Ben and Andie.

Considering it’s been 20 whole years since How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, I think we’re due for two of the most charismatic characters in Hollywood to “play” together again as the actors put it. 

Stream How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days with a Paramount+ subscription. 

Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell  

In my humble opinion, Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell are the Millenial versions of Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. They are both uber-charismatic, extremely funny, and have mad chemistry. Lightning really struck with their Netflix rom-com Set It Up as the two actors played assistants trying to, as the title implies, set their bosses up so they didn’t have to work so much. 

Seeing as the director of Set It Up already has a sequel in mind, Deutch and Powell have remained good friends, and both their careers have flourished because of movies like Not Okay and Top Gun: Maverick, respectively, I think it’s time we see them re-team for another rom-com. Maybe this time they could be the bosses.

Stream Set it Up with a Netflix subscription. 

Joel Kim Booster and Conrad Ricamora  

One of the best under-the-radar movies from 2022 was Fire Island, and Noah and Will quickly became one of my favorite rom-com couples. It’s the classic case of opposites attract. With Joel Kim Booster’s extroverted and sassy character and Conrad Ricamora’s quieter yet equally sarcastic love interest, they made for a great match on screen. 

Fire Island was a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, and Kim Booster and Ricamora played a great parallel to Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, and it would be amazing to see the two together again. Maybe it could be another modern adaptation of a classic work, a la 10 Things I Hate About You. Or maybe it could be an original story that capitalizes on their comedic timing and wholesome chemistry. 

Stream Fire Island with a Hulu subscription. 

Anne Hathaway and Chris Pine 

Now, Anne Hathaway has some iconic rom-coms and some magnificent screen partners, but nothing comes close to the absolutely legendary pairing of her and Chris Pine in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. Growing up with this movie, and watching these two actors go from enemies to lovers was incredible, and set a high bar for all other rom-com pairings moving forward. I mean nothing tops that fountain scene.

Luckily, there is a Princess Daires 3 in the works, however, it’s unclear who will be involved. Hopefully, we’ll get to see Hathaway and Pine together again, because it’s been almost 20 years since they've been on screen together. I think it's time for another Royal Engagement, if you will, from these two powerhouses.

Stream Princess Diaries 2 with a Disney+ subscription.  

Noah Centineo and Lana Condor 

I was a sophomore in college when To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before came out, and let me tell you, it was a mega-hit among us Zillenials, and remains one of my favorite recent rom-coms. The reason this movie is so good is mostly because of how fantastic Noah Centineo and Lana Condor are together. 

The two shined as Lara Jean and Peter, and led the To All The Boys cast fantastically. Now, the two have taken on other roles, and their stars have grown significantly. Now that it’s been a few years since this rom-com trilogy ended I think it’s time the adorable pair picked up another project together. They’re funny and have so much chemistry people actually thought they were dating, however, they decided to keep things platonic, and they seem to have a blast working with each other. So, bring on another rom-com!

Stream To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before with a Netflix subscription. 

Henry Golding and Constance Wu 

Crazy Rich Asians proved to be a crazy rich hit in 2018. And while the entire ensemble was incredible, Henry Golding and Constance Wu were at the heart of the story, and they were perfect together. While the two are set to reprise their roles in a sequel as Rachel and Nick, it’s unclear when that will happen, so it would be great to see them in another movie together. 

What was interesting about Crazy Rich Asians, is when we meet Golding and Wus’ characters they are already in a long-term relationship. They worked so well, that I didn’t doubt Nick and Rachels' relationship for a second. I think it’d be fun to see the two play out a new relationship in another movie, however, I’m also hoping they reunite for Crazy Rich Asians 2 sooner rather than later. 

Stream Crazy Rich Asians with an HBO Max subscription. 

Jude Law And Cameron Diaz

There’s nothing cozier to me during the Christmas season than sitting down, putting on The Holiday, and watching Cameron Diaz and Jude Law fall in love. Kate Winslet and Jack Black’s relationship is oh, so wholesome. However, the big stars of the show are Diaz and Law, whose chemistry jumps off the screen, and their relationship feels like a warm hug.

While our dreams were dashed of ever seeing a sequel to The Holiday, when Kate Winslet turned the rumors down, a girl can dream. And I think it’s about time we see Diaz and Law in another comforting rom-com together. 

Stream The Holiday on Showtime, or rent/buy it on Amazon.

These are just a few pairs of actors who I’d love to see together on screen again. From early aught classics, to more recent pairings that have already made their mark, there are so many couples I’d love to see together again. And hopefully, someday all my dreams will come true.

It’s now been four summers since Crazy Rich Asians hit theaters and swept the box office off its feet as a rare romantic comedy that could make bank. Not too soon after its success, it was announced that Kevin Kwan’s entire trilogy would be seen on the big screen. Well… where is it? The franchise’s star Constance Wu has shared a couple updates at least.

Constance Wu played the movie’s leading lady, Rachel Chu, a New York University economics professor who finds love in Nick Young (played by Henry Golding), but is then placed in the middle of an awkward crossfire when she travels with him home to Singapore for a wedding. Here’s what Wu shared about what’s going on with Crazy Rich Asians 2: 

Wu was speaking to ScreenRant about her new series The Terminal List, which she stars in with Chris Pratt, and it was during that conversation that actress broke a long silence about the next Crazy Rich Asians movie. As she shared, there’s some movement on the rom-com sequel, with filming on the producers' minds. Plus, she shared a cute nugget about being great friends with Awkwafina, who played Rachel’s best friend Goh Peik Lin in the 2018 movie. 

After Crazy Rich Asians, there are two more novels that star Rachel and Nick: China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems. Back in 2018, it was announced that the sequels would be filmed back-to-back in 2020, but then 2020 must have happened. Plus, there’s the fact that just about every member of the Crazy Rich Asians cast has been busy getting even more famous since the release of the rom-com and going from project to project. 

The latest news we’ve heard about what’s next for Crazy Rich Asians prior to Wu’s words is that there was a shakeup in the writer’s room, with newcomer writer Amy Wang now penning the script. The change came after there was a pay dispute between one of the scribes of the first movie for the sequels. Adele Lim, who wrote the first movie alongside Peter Chiarelli, decided to exit the projects due to being offered significantly less money than her male co-writer. 

Right now, we’re also not sure if Jon M. Chu will still direct the movie either, considering the director has been in pre-production on the two Wicked movies he’ll helm. We’ll keep you updated on the Crazy Rich Asians sequels as we learn more about them. Until then, you can check out Constance Wu in The Terminal List, now streaming with an Amazon Prime subscription. 

Among the many ways Charlize Theron has shined over the years has been acting in action-related movies, and she won’t stop doing this anytime soon. In addition to continuing her run in the Fast & Furious universe as Cipher for Fast X, as well as likely being part of yet-to-be-officially-announced Doctor Strange 3 thanks to her debut as Clea in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Theron is also set to reprise the immortal warrior Andy in the The Old Guard 2. While knew about some of the familiar faces who would return alongside Theron in the Netflix sequel, it’s been revealed that two major action stars have been added to the cast.

Netflix has announced that Uma Thurman and Henry Golding have been brought aboard for The Old Guard 2. Sadly, no details were revealed about either of their roles, so Netflix subscribers will have to keep waiting to learn how they fit into the sequel’s picture. This will be both Thurman’s first time starring in a Netflix original movie, although does already have ties established with the streaming service through the series Chambers, which aired for one season back in April 2019. Golding’s first Netflix movie is Persuasion, which will be released on the platform next month.

As far as their action bonafides go, Uma Thurman is arguably best known within the genre for playing The Bride in the Kill Bill movies, and her other notable credits in this entertainment space include Batman & Robin, The Avengers (the 1998 one based off the British TV series, not the Marvel movie), Paycheck and My Super Ex-Girlfriend. In Henry Golding’s case, he made his action debut last year playing Snakes Eyes in the same-named G.I. Joe spinoff. Thurman most recently starred in the Disney+ movie Hollywood Stargirl, and along with Persuasion, Golding is attached to Downtown Owl and a film adaptation of The Tiger’s Apprentice. 

Uma Thurman, Henry Golding and Charlize Theron will be joined in The Old Guard 2 by KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Veronica Ngo and Chiwetel Ejiofor, all of whom are reprising their roles from the first movie. The Old Guard, adapted from the same-named comic book series, followed a group of immortal mercenaries who discover a new member of their kind and set out on a revenge mission. 78 million households checked out the movie during its first four weeks of availability.

Talk of potentially making The Old Guard 2 started shortly after the first movie came out, and it was reported in January 2021 that the sequel would indeed move forward, although it didn’t end up hitting the early 2022 film start date that Charlize Theron mentioned was being eyed the following July. Victoria Mahoney has inherited helming duties for the sequel from Gina Prince-Bythewood, who didn’t return for The Old Guard 2 because the success of its predecessor led to her taking other work opportunities. Just like with The Old Guard, Greg Rucka, who wrote the original comic book series that was illustrated by Leandro Fernandez, penned the sequel too.

While we wait for more news on The Old Guard 2, including when it will begin filming, look through the many Netflix movies that are available to watch, and continue visiting CinemaBlend for more movie and TV news.

When Crazy Rich Asians became a box office hit in the summer of 2018, it not only showed that romantic comedies could be viable in theaters again, it marked a major moment for Asian talent in major movies. Since then, successful movies such as Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Everything Everywhere All At Once have proved again that Jon M. Chu’s movie has contributed to a Hollywood movement where more authentic Asian stories than ever are getting the spotlight. The director reflected on Crazy Rich Asians as this exciting trend continues. 

Jon M. Chu spoke exclusively with CinemaBlend’s own Law Sharma about Asian representation within film; he recalled the role Gold House, a nonprofit collective of Asian and Pacific Islanders, had in supporting Crazy Rich Asians. In his words: 

Ahead of Crazy Rich Asians making A-list stars out of actors like Henry Golding, Awkwafina and Gemma Chan, Chu remembered not knowing how massive the film would be. He met with members in Gold House about supporting the film within their community. Chu continued: 

In recent years, there’s certainly been an uptick of Asian talent in major films and behind the scenes, which includes Pixar’s Turning Red and Netflix’s romantic comedies The Half Of It and the All The Boys trilogy. Chu is one of the few major Asian directors, who had made Step Up and the Now You See Me movies ahead of deciding to adapt Crazy Rich Asians. While speaking to CinemaBlend (also in the video above), the filmmaker also said this about his journey into becoming so successful himself: 

Last summer, Jon M. Chu released In The Heights, which highlighted the Latin community, and coming up, he has numerous projects in the works, including the two Wicked movies starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. During the interview, Chu spoke about what’s going on with those movies, and we’re already pumped. 

Chu has also long been attached to the Crazy Rich Asians sequels, but he and the cast have been so busy with other opportunities it seems there hasn’t been the time to rush into it. It was recently announced that a spinoff centering on Gemma Chan and Harry Shum Jr’s characters is coming. 

We’ll continue to keep you posted on updates on upcoming movies here on CinemaBlend. 

Simu Liu became a massive star this past year in particular when he debuted a new Marvel hero in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Now that the Chinese-Canadian has found his big break as a Hollywood star, he has recently been opening up about his road to fame, with one bump in the road being that he auditioned and got rejected from a role in Crazy Rich Asians. Following his recent comments, it has sparked a debate about Henry Golding and the movie itself, which Liu has now come back around to defend. 

For over a week, Simu Liu’s brief run-in with Crazy Rich Asians has been a hot button topic the internet has been discussing. Let’s break down everything that happened: 

What Simu Liu Said About His Experience With Crazy Rich Asians 

While Simu Liu guested on the podcast How To Fail With Elizabeth Day to promote his recently released memoir We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story, he discussed one element from the book where he reveals that he auditioned for Crazy Rich Asians four times and was rejected from a role. In his words: 

Liu recalled the “crushing blow” before sharing how the rejection also played into his current success. He continued:  

Following Liu’s comments, movie fans have had a conversation about the decision to cast Henry Golding instead of Simu Liu. 

The Online Debate Simu Liu’s Comments Started 

Now to clarify, Simu Liu was reportedly not in the running for Henry Golding’s leading role. The Shang-Chi star revealed that he auditioned for the best friend of Golding’s character Colin (played by Chris Pang), and Michael, the husband of Gemma Chan's character (Pierre Png). Even so, the internet is weighing between Liu and Golding. 

There are two sides to the debate that sparked from Simi Liu’s comments revealing he had auditioned for Crazy Rich Asians about whether the actor is too Asian or not Asian enough for the role. On one hand (and again Liu apparently wasn’t even up for the leading man role), the casting of Golding was being discussed because the actor is biracial, with a White father and Malaysian mother, whereas Liu has two Chinese parents. 

Crazy Rich Asians is about a Singaporean family. One Twitter user pointed out that “most singaporeans are ethnically Chinese,” arguing Liu would make more sense in the movie, while another user shared that they felt Golding would understand the culture more coming from a Southeast Asian background.

How Simu Liu Has Since Defended Henry Golding And The Crazy Rich Asians Cast 

Following the internet chatter, Liu took to Twitter to say that his experience auditioning for Crazy Rich Asians led to some “really meaningful feedback” and he feels the movie was “PERFECTLY cast just the way it was.” The tweet also includes pages from Liu’s memoir about the process: 

As Liu shared, 2018’s Crazy Rich Asians “paved way” for more Asian stories to be massive studio movies, including Shang-Chi. Amidst this, it’s interesting to read what the process was like for Liu before making it in Marvel. 

Another Jane Austen classic finds its way back to the screen. Netflix is adapting Persuasion. With the huge success of Bridgerton, it completely makes sense that the streaming service would look to the queen of Regency-era romance for some inspiration. Netflix has also enlisted two of the most well known names in the romance book adaptation world, Dakota Johnson and Henry Golding.

Persuasion may not be as popular as Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Sense and Sensibility, but that’s what makes this project so exciting. It may introduce casual Jane Austen fans to a whole new story. Let’s explore some of the things that we already know about Netflix’s Persuasion adaptation.

Dakota Johnson Stars In Persuasion

In April 2021, Netflix announced that Dakota Johnson would lead the cast. Johnson plays 27-year-old heroine, Anne Elliot. According to Variety, Anne is an unwed woman living with her wealthy and elitist family, who are having money problems.

Jane Austen’s heroines are often intelligent, witty, and bold. We expect nothing less with Johnson as Anne. Dakota Johnson has created a very impressive resume since her leading role in the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy.

She recently appeared in the 2022 Oscar-nominated film, The Lost Daughter. She has appeared in indie favorites Suspiria, The Peanut Butter Falcon, and Cha Cha Real Smooth. Persuasion just adds another intriguing mark to her evolving career.

In a Vogue interview, Johnson shared a bit about working on this Netflix film:

It Premieres On July 15, 2022

What’s summer without some romance? Netflix is going way back for this summertime romantic movie. Through their official blog, Tudum, Netflix announced that fans can wear their best attire, gather around the ballroom and watch Persuasion on Netflix on July 15, 2022.

The film is one of Netflix’s most anticipated movies of 2022. It’s one that fans couldn’t wait to see on the 2022 Netflix movie schedule. 

The new movie releases for July 2022 are already packed with blockbusters, such as Minions: The Rise of Gru, Bullet Train, and Thor: Love and Thunder, so Netflix has big competition for the attention of the movie-going public, but Austen and Dakota Johnson may just be the duo to make the movie a hit.

Now that you know the Persuasion premiere date, plan accordingly.

Persuasion’s Cast Includes Henry Golding And Richard E. Grant

Similar to Bridgerton, Persuasion cast actors of many different racial and ethnic backgrounds. Henry Golding and Cosmo Jarvis play the male leads.

Jarvis plays Captain Frederick Wentworth, Anne’s main love interest. Golding plays Anne’s cousin, Mr. Eliott. Deadline describes him as a “callous and classic Austen foil.” According to Deadline, playing a villainous character is what attracted Golding to the role. 

Golding has been known for playing romantic leads in the last few years. He played the male romantic lead in Crazy Rich Asians, Last Christmas, and A Simple Favor. Because of his past work, many fans may have expected him to play Captain Wentworth. But, this isn’t Golding’s first dubious role, as he played one of the villains in The Gentlemen.

Jarvis is a little lesser-known, but his resume includes projects such as Peaky Blinders, Raised by Wolves, and Lady Macbeth.

2019 Academy Award nominee Richard E. Grant is also amongst the Persuasion cast. The cast also includes Edward Bluemel, Lydia Rose Bewley, Suki Waterhouse, Ben Bailey Smith, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Izuka Hoyle, Yolanda Kettle, and Nia Towle.

Filming Wrapped By December 2021

In Deadline’s May 2021 cast announcement, it was mentioned that rehearsals and costume fittings had begun for a UK shoot. Filming likely began shortly after, because Somerset Live reported in late June 2021 that filming was underway on Persuasion.

According to the website, the movie filmed in Bath from June 22, 2021, to June 25, 2021. They even captured a behind-the-scenes photo of Dakota Johnson filming with who appears to be Nikki Amuka-Bird. 

During her Vogue interview in December 2021, Johnson revealed that Persuasion was now in the editing stage of production. This means that filming likely wrapped long before December 2021. According to TribLive, Dakota Johnson began filming Cha Cha Real Smooth in August 2021, so filming on Persuasion likely wrapped by then.

This means the shoot possibly only lasted a few months, which seems to be standard practice for most midsize budget films.

Persuasion Is A Story Of Second Chances

Persuasion was Jane Austen’s final novel. It was published six months after her death. The book follows Anne Elliot as she and her family readjust to a more humble lifestyle.

They rent a room to an admiral and his wife. They just happen to be the relatives of Anne’s once betrothed. She broke off their engagement seven years before the events of the novel, because her family and friends convinced her to end their engagement 

Persuasion follows Anne and Captain Frederick Wentworth as they fall in love. According to Tudum, this adaptation won’t stray too far from the source material.  It may follow in Little Women’s footsteps with a few updates and changes to make it more relevant to a modern audience, but the core themes and messages should remain.

Captain Wentworth and Anne’s story of second chances should still be a main part of this Persuasion adaptation.

Searchlight Also Had A Persuasion Movie In Development For 2022

In September 2020, Variety announced Sarah Snook was cast as the lead of a Searchlight adaptation of Persuasion, with Mahalia Belo set to direct. In January 2021, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Joel Fry would take on the role of Captain Wentworth.

It wasn’t until April 2021 that Netflix announced Dakota Johnson as Anne Elliot. If you’re thinking, “Yay, two Persuasion projects!” then you may want to sit down. We have bad news. 

In an October 2021 interview with Vogue Australia, Sarah Snook clarified the status of the Persuasion film starring herself and Joel Fry: 

Disappointing it is, indeed, because I think Fry and Snook were really good casting choices, and I would have loved to see what they did with the characters. I guess now we just have to dream of what could have been and look forward to Dakota Johnson in Netflix’s Persuasion.

There are still a few months before Persuasion streams on Netflix. Fans of Jane Austen’s novel have plenty of time to reread it, or those unaware of it can read it for the first time. It’s definitely one of the 2022 book adaptations that we’re most excited to see.

It was just in 2018 that Crazy Rich Asians premiered and quickly took the world by storm. While there were a number of very recognizable faces in the film, there were also some newer actors, who were catapulted to stardom because of the movie’s popularity. One of those actors was, of course, Henry Golding, who’s had no shortage of work since the film’s debut. Now, Golding’s lined up a new television series, but we still want to know what’s going on with Crazy Rich Asians 2.

What TV Series Is Henry Golding Working On?

According to Deadline, Henry Golding has now agreed to star in Nameless, a series adaptation of the thrillers by acclaimed author Dean Koontz. The novels (which are a series of 12 short books first published as Amazon Originals in 2019) follow Nameless, an amnesiac who can only remember one thing: his mission as assigned by a secretive agency. Nameless travels around the country to right the wrongs of a justice system that sometimes fails, by “turning predators into prey.” That is, until his shadowy past begins to catch up with him, and “dark” visions take him toward what will be his biggest challenge so far.

Golding is working with SK Global (the co-financiers and producers of Crazy Rich Asians, with which he struck a two-year first-look film and television deal earlier this year) to develop the potential show, which does already sound like it will be right up his alley. Golding has chosen a wide range of projects since his star-making turn in the blockbuster romantic comedy, with roles in movies like Snake Eyes, The Gentlemen, A Simple Favor, and upcoming movies like the Jane Austen adaptation, Persuasion, showing that he’s capable of doing everything from comedy to serious action, as a hero or bad guy. 

This does, though, beg the question: What about Crazy Rich Asians 2?

What’s Going On With Crazy Rich Asians 2?

As much as the idea of being able to see Henry Golding on TV every week in what sounds like an action-packed thriller seems like a boon for his fans (and television viewers) everywhere, that doesn’t mean that people who loved Crazy Rich Asians aren’t still chomping at the bit for the sequel. 

The original film was so massively successful that it didn’t take long for two sequels to enter the planning stages, with both being based on subsequent books in the series of novels by Kevin Kwan that the first movie was based on. It was originally thought that both sequels would begin filming back to back at some point in 2020, but the pandemic isn’t (solely) to blame for the delay. In the fall of 2018, co-writer Adele Lim left the movies over the pay disparity between her and co-writer Peter Chiarelli (both also co-write the first movie). 

When you add that to some creative difficulties of penning the scripts, which will likely need to increase the presence of several characters who were immensely popular in the first movie, but don’t feature heavily in the second and third books, along with the very busy schedules of much of the cast and director Jon M. Chu, it could be quite a while yet before we hear about Crazy Rich Asians 2 beginning to film.

Luckily, while production on the next Crazy Rich Asians movies are a bit stalled at the moment, we don’t have to worry about Henry Golding disappearing from our screens any time soon. With Nameless still in the very early stages of development, it will be some time before we hear when and where the possible series might show up, as well as who’d join the star on the show and how many episodes it will have. But, at least we know that Golding is eager to make the jump to TV, and that’s a very good thing. 

Last month, moviegoers officially said goodbye to Daniel Craig’s James Bond in No Time To Die following the actor's 15-year stint as 007. As it goes, there will be another Bond in the mix sometime in the future. Ahead of any decisions being made, there are a number of actors the public has nominated, including Crazy Rich Asians and Snake Eyes star Henry Golding, who has offered his own take on what’s important for the franchise going forward. 

Henry Golding finds himself among many big names that have been thrown around in the theoretical conversation, including Henry Cavill, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, Richard Madden, Sam Heughan and so forth. When he spoke to the Radio Times, Golding was asked about diversity, perhaps needing to be a contributing factor in choosing the next actor. Here was his response:  

As the actor shared, he doesn’t think the Bond producers should pick a minority for Bond simply because the rest have been white men so far. He thinks the best person for the role should be the person who gets the role. Simple as that. In his words: 

You know the term “diversity hire?" It happens sometimes when companies want to appear more inclusive or are trying to be but remain pretty much the same on other fronts. They can then point to their “diversity hire” to prove that they are improving, all while other elements that would make them more inclusive remain unchecked. If the producers simply picked a non-white actor to fulfill this “diversity hire,” it simply would not be as helpful as auditioning a breadth of talent and picking the best person for the job. 

Golding makes a great point with this response, and it’s not unlike the argument many have made regarding the chances of a female Bond. While early on, actresses like Charlize Theron and Emily Blunt were brought up as good possible Bonds, people, such as even Daniel Craig, have shared their disinterest in a woman taking over Bond. Not because the role shouldn't be inclusive, but because we’d rather see a female spy character of her own written rather than becoming female version of another thing. It’s just lazy, folks. 

The latest update on the search for the next Bond suggest that the producers are “not looking at anything” at the moment. This is understandable, given they just wrapped a long time tenure with Daniel Craig’s version. It has been reported that they’ll start making plans next year. Henry Golding is most certainly a great pick following his rise in Hollywood the last few years. We’ll keep you posted on Bond news here on CinemaBlend. 

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Henry Golding’s career has been on a major upward rise ever since his breakout role in Crazy Rich Asians. Since that film, Golding has been the leading man in other hits, such as A Simple Favor and Last Christmas. Much of Golding’s work has been as the romantic lead in a comedy or drama, but he’s been branching out to other genres. In 2021, he took on the action world as the lead in Snake Eyes.

With Snake Eyes now available to watch online, Henry Golding is bound to acquire many new admirers. They will want to see him and the rest of the Snake Eyes cast in other films and TV shows. Henry Golding fans, new or returning ones, have plenty of movies and TV shows to stream or rent starring or co-starring the Crazy Rich Asians actor. Here’s what to watch and where you can watch it if you like Henry Golding.

Crazy Rich Asians (HBO Max)

In the romantic dramedy Crazy Rich Asians, Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) travels to Singapore and discovers her boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding), comes from a very wealthy family. At first, Rachel is shunned by Nick’s mother Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh), and Rachel herself fears that she won’t be good enough for his upper-class life.

Crazy Rich Asians is the film that made Henry Golding the face of many young girls' and guys’ dreams. It helped propel his career to leading man status. It was a huge box office hit, won lots of critical praise, and made its cast even more well-known. Fans of Crazy Rich Asians can’t wait to see Rachel, Nick, and the rest of the Crazy Rich Asians cast return for their planned sequels, even if that means fans may have to wait a while to see it.

Stream Crazy Rich Asians on HBO Max.

Rent Crazy Rich Asians on Amazon.

A Simple Favor (Amazon)

A Simple Favor follows the unexpected friendship between Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) and Emily (Blake Lively). The two women seem like an odd combination, but they quickly become devoted friends. Then Emily disappears and Stephanie makes it her mission to discover what happened to her. Stephanie sort of starts to take her place, especially with Emily’s husband, Sean (Henry Golding).

A Simple Favor is a fun murder mystery with a really entertaining final half, with plenty of twists. Golding is the male lead and holds his own next to the powerhouses that are Lively and Kendrick in this movie. Sean is sensitive and attractive enough to make you understand why Emily and Stephanie are drawn to him, but also dubious enough to make you wonder if he could have murdered his wife. A Simple Favor is one of the best Amazon Prime movies to rent if you want something that’s both thrilling and really funny.

Rent A Simple Favor on Amazon.

Last Christmas (Cinemax Go)

Last Christmas is a Holiday romantic comedy about a woman whose life seems out of control. Kate (Emilia Clarke) has sort of given up on life after nearly dying from a heart condition. She was saved due to a heart transplant. One day Kate meets Tom (Henry Golding), who helps Kate start to regain control of her life and become more of a kind and loving person.

Many talk about Last Christmas because of the surprise twist ending. Last Christmas is a typical romantic movie, which means you want Tom and Kate to have their happy ending--mainly because of Clarke and Golding’s great on-screen chemistry. Tom is good at helping support Kate, who gets to reveal her kind heart because of Tom, in more ways than one.

Stream Last Christmas on Cinemax Go.

Rent Last Christmas on Amazon.

The Gentlemen (Showtime)

The Gentlemen is the 2019 Guy Ritchie crime comedy that has an all-star cast that includes Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Hugh Grant, Michelle Dockery, and Colin Farrell. It follows Mickey Pearson (Matthew McConaughey) as he attempts to sell his very successful weed empire. He’s trying to sell it to Matthew (Jeremy Strong), but the transaction isn’t as smooth as expected.

Henry Golding plays Dry Eye, “the antagonist” of The Gentlemen. He wants Mickey’s empire and will stop at nothing to get it. Golding is the right mixture of devious, scummy, and dangerous but - for the most part - still a comedic enough villain to not incite years of nightmares from its viewers.

Stream The Gentlemen on Showtime.

Rent The Gentlemen on Amazon.

Monsoon (Netflix)

Monsoon follows Kit (Henry Golding) as he returns to Saigon after leaving the country at six years old, after the Vietnam War. This was over thirty years ago. Kit is there to bury his parents in their home country. He reunites with a friend from his childhood, sees his old home, and finds love along the way.

Monsoon is all about a man’s journey to connect with a country he long abandoned. It’s also about discovering what his connection with this country means for his identity. Monsoon is a quiet movie that mainly relies on Henry Golding’s acting skills to connect viewers to Kit and his journey. It’s one of the best movies on Netflix to watch if you want a slow-burner film.

Stream Monsoon on Netflix.

Rent Monsoon on Amazon.

The Travel Show (Youtube)

The Travel Show is a BBC original program that began in 2013 and is still currently airing. The show follows several different presenters as they highlight different places, advancements, and customs of cities around the world. Some of the cities featured are London,Tokyo, and Kuala Lumpur. A few of the presenters include Ade Adepitan, Rajan Datar, Benjamin Zand, and Henry Golding.

Golding usually highlights different things to do, see, eat, and experience in Kuala Lumpur. He joined the series in 2014. The Travel Show is available to stream on its official Youtube page.

Stream The Travel Show on Youtube.

Star Wars: Visions (Disney+)

Star Wars: Visions is an upcoming animated anthology series for Disney+. It consists of nine short films produced by six Japanese animation studios. The stories in Star Wars: Visions will be set in the Star Wars Universe. The show is one of the most anticipated fall 2021 shows.

Star Wars: Visions has a very impressive voice cast that includes Henry Golding, Lucy Liu, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Golding will appear in the movie called Akakiri. Star Wars: Visions will begin to stream on Disney+ on September 22, 2021.

Stream Star Wars: Visions Soon on Disney+.

Henry Golding can next be seen as Mr. Elliot in the upcoming Netflix Persuasion adaptation. Snake Eyes is currently available to rent or purchase on your favorite video-on-demand service.

Rent Snake Eyes on Amazon.

The Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins Digital, 4K Ultra HD, and Blu-ray releases are packed with explosive special features that delve into the world of Snake Eyes and the mysterious Arashikage clan. Among the special features is a behind-the-scenes look at sword fight training with the Snake Eyes cast, Fight Coordinator Kenji Tanigaki, and Stunt Coordinator Kimani Ray Smith.

Fans were blown away by the fight choreography and action sequences in Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, and now, with the digital release of the film, fans will get a glimpse behind the scenes. Fight Coordinator Kenji Tanigaki created a unique style for each of the characters based on the amount of training they had in the story. Check it out in the clip below.

In the clip, Keni Tanigaki mentions that since Tommy (played by Andrew Koji) trained at Arashikage for many years, he must be very skilled in his technique. In contrast, Snake Eyes (played by Henry Golding) does not have to be as skilled because he’s coming from the street. This distinction may go unnoticed to the untrained eye, but to those who know the technique it is obvious, and also comes to the forefront once you’ve been made aware of it.

Leading man Henry Golding explains in the clip how one’s body changes through fighting and martial arts. Co-star Andrew Koji elaborates on the experience, discussing what it was like to learn the psychology of the moves. These actors give truly phenomenal performances in the film, and it’s amazing to see the amount of work that went into each scene.

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins arrives early for Premium Digital purchase and on Premium Video-On-Demand (PVOD) on August 17, 2021 from Paramount Home Entertainment. The film will subsequently be available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on October 19. Fans can also purchase a 4K Ultra HD Combo in a collectible SteelBook (pictured below; SteelBook Combo includes an Ultra HD Disc with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos and a Blu-ray Disc with Dolby Atmos, as well as access to a Digital copy) and complete their G.I. JOE movie collection with a 3-Movie gift set that includes G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, and Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray or Digital.

The 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Discs of Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins also boast a Dolby Atmos soundtrack remixed specifically for the home to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead. Both 4K Ultra HD offerings include the all-new short film Morning Light: A Weapon with Stories to Tell, deleted scenes not seen in theaters, a featurette on what it took to bring the origin story of the iconic hero Snake Eyes to life, and more!

Can’t get enough of Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins? Watch it early on Premium Digital & On-Demand August 17, 2021 and on 4K Ultra UD, Blu-ray, & DVD October 19. We also rounded up the best movies of Snake Eyes actor and stuntman Iko Uwais’s career for fans to check out.

If you're going to try and reboot the G.I. Joe franchise on the big screen, there are certainly worse ideas than starting with an origin story movie for Snake Eyes. He's arguable the most popular character that the Hasbro toy line has ever had. And by starting there, you can introduce only a handful of characters and don't have to deal with the parade of heroes and villains that have existed over the years.

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins has now been out for about a week, so the most diehard fans have had the chance to check it out. Critics were torn on the film, with most of them either finding the glass half full or half empty, but not not really finding enough in the movie to get them feeling passionately one way or the other. But what do the fans have to say? Let's take a look.

Snake Eyes Has Fans Split

Like critics, fans are largely split on Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, but that doesn't mean they all feel exactly the same about it. With critics, the feeling was largely one of disappointment; either that the movie was good, but with some serious issues, or that it was bad, with a lot of missed potential. Fan reactions run the gamut a bit wider. There are many who feel that Snake Eyes is straight up awesome and that it delivers exactly what it aims to deliver. It's a movie designed for fans and it delivers to fans.

However, not every fan feels quite the same way. For every person who thinks Snake Eyes is exactly the movie they hoped it would be when they dreamed of it as a kid, there's somebody who feels the film really fell flat. While most people seem to be in agreement that Snake Eyes is the best G.I. Joe movie, even if that's something of a low bar, not everybody feels quite that way.

And from the two extremes, we meet in the middle. While some loved and some really hated Snake Eyes, however you want to average out the responses, the answer probably lies someplace in between. Snake Eyes is just a movie. It has some good elements and some bad elements, and the only real question is which side outweighs the other for you personally.

However, even for those who maybe didn't love Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, there is at least one specific part of the film that seems to be getting near universal praise.

Pretty Much Everybody Loves Andrew Koji

Most reactions to Henry Golding as the title character in Snake Eyes are positive. Many people feel he handles the action well, though there are other opinions about the way the action scenes are shot. And a lot of people think the character development of Snake Eyes is solid. However, all of this can also be said of Andrew Koji's Storm Shadow, and a lot of fans think he's actually the real star of Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins.

There was already a lot of love for Andrew Koji's action skill prior to Snake Eyes, but for anybody who hadn't already seen Warrior, this movie was clearly one hell of an introduction. While Koji's character may have ended things on the opposite side from Snake Eyes, a lot of fans loved the performance and want to see more from Storm Shadow as much, if not more, than they want to see more of Snake Eyes.

Whether we will get a chance to see more from Snake Eyes or Storm Shadow remains to be seen. While the movie certainly didn't set the box office on fire, the fact is few movies are doing that these days and the metrics of cinematic success are different than they once were. It does seem clear that even though a lot of people didn't love Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, they liked enough of it that they be willing to give a sequel a chance. We'll have to wait and see if the studio feels the same way.

The G.I. Joe movie franchise is at an interesting intersection right about now. With Henry Golding’s Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins currently in theaters, any potential follow-up needs to make some pretty big choices. The direction of this potential revival of the G.I. Joe name, much like the Transformers franchise before it, can be determined by backing the right calls when it comes to how to handle the subject matter. Looking back at Snake Eyes, there’s already a number of suggestions that can be used to improve upon the work that first film laid out, so let’s take a look at the ways the next G.I. Joe movie could do just that.

Establish A Clear Focus On Your Lead Character

While this latest G.I. Joe movie was called Snake Eyes, and Henry Golding was positioned as the lead, some have questioned whether the film actually lived up to both ends of that sales pitch. It’s especially true when you have reviews saying there’s a good case to divvy up that leading man status among Golding and his co-star Andrew Koji. So if there’s going to be another G.I. Joe movie, whether it’s a Snake Eyes follow-up or not, it needs to have a clearly defined lead.

It certainly didn’t help to have other characters like Samara Weaving’s Scarlett and Ursula Corbero’s Baroness further complicating things in Snake Eyes, as either of those players could have had a spinoff of their own. The next installment in the G.I. Joe universe needs to pick a side and focus on one singular character, if it’s to be another origin story. Which is probably a good way to lead into the next major issue Snake Eyes had.

Choose A Director That Best Fits The Genre Of The Next G.I. Joe Movie

On the one hand, hiring director Robert Schwentke to direct a movie like Snake Eyes doesn’t seem like a bad idea. As a previous director of franchise fare, like entries in the Divergent series, who better to start off a new string of movies than someone who’s worked in that sort of environment? But on the other hand, Snake Eyes is very much a film that harkens back to martial arts films of the past, and it’s those strong vibes that made Schwentke an ill-fit for such a post.

Snake Eyes should have been helmed by a martial arts director, especially when so many action sequences would have benefitted from the touch of someone familiar with the genre. This lesson is important for future G.I. Joe films because depending on what sort of character/style of movie the next film is going to employ, it’s going to need someone who knows how to get the most out of that type of story. And that director is going to need to have someone they trust in the editing room as well.

Frame The Action So That The Audience Can Appreciate The Work

Another huge injustice to the action sequences in Snake Eyes is how all of the fight scenes are shot and edited with quick cuts and shaky cam. While this sort of movie has seen that approach taken in the past, the work put into the fights seen in this film in particular seem to betray the coolness these scenes could have had. Even if the next G.I Joe movie is a more standard action film that focuses on a Joe or Cobra operative, it needs to have a clearer visual picture.

Fans want to actually understand what’s going on in these action sequences, especially when they happen to include characters they love from the G.I. Joe toy line. Snake Eyes had fights that looked like they would have been riveting if they were just given some more time to land. Much like choosing the right main character, picking the correct way to portray your action sequences is also key to getting that story across.

Take The Time To Build The G.I. Joe Universe Properly

The G.I. Joe films of the past have been ensemble movies, with one or two characters that operated as the leads for the rest of the team. But the one thing that Snake Eyes attempted to do right was choose Henry Golding’s titular character as a focal point, and follow his entry into a larger world. It’s just unfortunate that the film needed to throw the Joes and Cobra into the story soup, when either of those worlds would have made for a great end credits tease.

It’s no secret that the G.I. Joe universe is chock full of characters who could have their own standalone adventures. There’s also a lot of figures that might be good sidekicks for other installments that are meant to tie the worlds of G.I. Joe and Cobra together. If Snake Eyes stuck with the Snake Eyes/Storm Shadow relationship, and introduced The Baroness and/or Scarlett at the end of the film, the universe would have more room to breathe and properly unfold. As Henry Golding is supposed to reprise his role as Snake Eyes in the next movie, this is a concern that will definitely remain at the forefront of the next film.

Give The Bad Guys A Chance To Shine For Once

One final suggestion for the G.I. Joe franchise is one that the powers-that-be seem to have already taken to heart. Admittedly, Andrew Koji’s Tommy Arashikage and his shift into the Storm Shadow persona is one of the most compelling pieces to the Snake Eyes story. So if the G.I. Joe saga has such an interest in the villains, why not give them a movie of their own to shine as the central characters? There’s already a tease for Storm Shadow to join the ranks of Cobra, as The Baroness recruited the self-exiled member of the Arashikage family to join the ranks.

With this character netting Koji’s performance praise, and Henry Golding already planning to be a part of the next film, you could very easily flip the origin story tables and have Storm Shadow hold court. Not only could this be a great example of how to improve upon the formula that was previously used for Snake Eyes, it’s another unique tactic in introducing the next cinematic generation of this toy-based franchise.

As this past weekend has shown, the longevity of the G.I. Joe franchise might be a little worse for the wear at this moment in time. That should only be further fuel for those who are in the driver’s seat to refocus this would-be franchise, and go (Joe) for it, through these or any other suggestions that could be drawn from Snake Eyes' performance. Should you want to formulate some opinions of your own to throw into the hat, Snake Eyes is currently in theaters and ready to find its audience.

Snake Eyes: GI Joe Origins is out in theaters, which means fans can now see Henry Golding in his armor-clad glory. The actor plays a super convincing Ninja, pulling off some thrilling stunts and showing off how capable of an action star he can be even when the Snake Eyes mask covers his face. So now that Golding has shown off his action chops, he has fans wondering what's next for him. Well, as Daniel Craig’s tenure as 007 is set to end, Golding has now provided some thoughts on whether he’d play James Bond down the road.

Henry Golding is a young British actor, so it's almost a given that he'll be asked whether he can be the next James Bond. While on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, the star discussed that very thing along with a number of other topics. Golding addressed the possibility of taking on the role of 007 by saying:

There are rumors of Henry Golding being one of the candidates to play James Bond after Daniel Craig's final 007 film, No Time To Die, so it's no surprise that he'd be asked. And while he didn’t confirm or deny anything, it does appear that, at the very least, he wouldn't turn down the role if offered. Golding has a growing profile and has now proven himself as a star, so he is an ideal candidate. But he has a lot of competition.

Though he almost left the franchise before No Time To Die, it's still hard to believe that Daniel Craig is actually hanging up his tuxedo, but his last Bond film is shaping up to be quite the send-off. James Bond turns 60 next year, which is an incredible milestone and, ultimately, it will be great to see a new 007 will join the storied ranks of the actors that came before. Henry Golding would be an exciting choice and is extremely handsome and clearly very capable, but it's honestly hard to predict the direction the franchise wants to go in.

The Bond franchise would make history with its first POC or woman James Bond, and Henry Golding has even previously spoken about how great it is that an Asian James Bond is even a consideration these days. It would be a big step for the Bond Franchise, considering that Daniel Craig was once criticized for being the first Blonde James Bond, though that admittedly ended up working out just fine.

With Snake Eyes being a fun action movie and a nice showcase for Henry Golding, it'll be great to see how he continues to add to his already great body of work. And of course, the origin story features a ton of Easter eggs that will make G.I. Joe fans happy, as Golding has even teased everything fans can look forward to seeing in between all the action set pieces. Still, let's not lose sight of the fact that the film is also Golding’s biggest audition for 007 yet.

At long last, Snake Eyes, the origin story of the fan-favorite G.I. Joe character of the same name, is finally in theaters after what seems likes years of delays. But with the past firmly behind us and a potential new franchise upon us, some may be wondering where exactly we have seen the Snake Eyes cast before. From Henry Golding to Samara Weaving and other notable stars all getting plenty of time to shine on the silver screen, it isn’t difficult to see why audiences want to see more from everyone involved with summer 2021 action film.

Below is a quick yet comprehensive breakdown of the major players in the Snake Eyes cast and where you’ve seen them before. With appearances on critically-acclaimed television programs, Oscar-winning movies, and decorated stage productions, this list is full of talent, from top to bottom.

Henry Golding (Snake Eyes)

Portraying the lone fighter simply known as Snake Eyes before the character joined up with the rest of the G.I. Joe crew is Henry Golding. Time will tell if Snake Eyes will become what Golding is best known for, but in the meantime he is most remembered for his portrayal of Nick Young, Constance Wu’s uber-rich boyfriend in Jon M. Chu’s 2018 megahit romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians. Since stealing the hearts of millions of moviegoers a few years back, Golding has gone on to appear in thrillers like A Simple Favor, fantasy romantic comedies like Last Christmas, and the Guy Ritchie action comedy The Gentlemen.

Prior to his high-profile film appearances, Henry Golding hosted a number of travel shows and variety programs including The 8TV Quickie in Malaysia and The Travel Show on the BBC where he was based in the Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur.

Andrew Koji (Thomas “Tommy” Arashikage/Storm Shadow)

Andrew Koji plays Thomas “Tommy” Arashikage, aka Storm Shadow, Snake Eyes’ future archenemy, but before the two found themselves at the other end of each other’s sword. Prior to playing the heir of Clan Arashikage in Snake Eyes, Koji made a name for himself as an actor, martial artist, and stuntman, including Fast and Furious 6, which saw him appear in an uncredited role as well as the stunt double for Sung Kang.

Since then, Andrew Koji has appeared in a series of short films as well as acclaimed television programs like Call the Midwife, American Gods, Peaky Blinders, and Cinemax’s Warrior, where he plays series lead Ah Sahm, a Chinese martial artist who travels to San Francisco in search of his missing sister. He will also soon be a part of the massive Bullet Train cast alongside Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, and more.

Úrsula Corberó (Baroness)

Representing the notorious terrorist organization Cobra is the group’s second in command Baroness, played here by Úrsula Corberó. Prior to taking on the role of the iconic G.I. Joe enemy, Corberó found fame, first in her native Spain with acclaimed series like Fisica o Quimica, 14 de abril. La República, and Money Heist, which became a surprise hit on Netflix during its third season (the show was even more popular than Tiger King at one time) Corberó also had a recurring role on the Crackle adaption of Snatch in the show’s second season.

In addition to all the live-action work she has done throughout her career, Úrsula Corberó has also lent her voice to a number of animated movies including Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, The Secret Life of Pets, and The Emoji Movie.

Samara Weaving (Scarlett)

Bridging the gap between G.I. Joe and Clan Arashikage in Snake Eyes is Scarlett, played by Samara Weaving. One of the biggest names on the Snake Eyes cast, Weaving is probably best remembered for her portrayal of Grace Le Domas in the 2019 black comedy horror film Ready or Not, which earned her plenty of recognition from the horror community. Over the years, Weaving has also appeared in movies like Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, The Babysitter (and its sequel The Babysitter: Killer Queen), and Guns Akimbo. She will soon appear in Damien Chazelle’s Babylon.

Samara Weaving’s notable roles aren't exclusive to the world of cinema as she has been a part of a handful of popular television programs over the years. From. Home and Away to Ash vs. Evil Dead and SMILF to Hollywood, Weaving has pulled off everything from comedy to horror. She will also appear in one of the most anticipated entries on the 2021 Summer TV schedule when she joins the rest of the Nine Perfect Strangers cast in Hulu’s thrilling limited series.

Iko Uwais (Hard Master)

Taking on the role of Hard Master, the formidable leader of Clan Arashikage and Storm Shadow’s uncle, is Iko Uwais. Fans of martial arts movies and the action genre in general will instantly recognize Uwais for his career-defining portrayal of Rama in Gareth Evans crime epics The Raid: Redemption and The Raid 2. Prior to that, Uwais had a breakout role in Evans’ 2009 crime action drama Merantau. If you are a big fan of Star Wars, especially the Sequel Trilogy, then you will probably recognize Uwais from his brief appearance as Razoo Qin-Fee, one of the bandits who confronts Han Solo early in the movie.

More recently, Iko Uwais has appeared in movies like The Night Comes for Us, Stuber, and Triple Threat, with more on the way, including Wu Assassins: Fistful of Vengeance, a continuation of the Netflix supernatural action series Wu Assassins. Let's just hope Uwais one day ends up joining the John Wick franchise.

Haruka Abe (Akiko)

Haruka Abe portrays a trainee with Clan Arashikage named Akiko, who, in addition to being more than capable of taking care of herself in a fight, also has a long history with both Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow. Prior to landing one of the lead roles in Snake Eyes, Abe made a name for herself on a number of British television series including Ideal, Doctors, and Stath Lets Flats. Abe also voiced a character by the name of Noodle in the 2020 web series Song Machine created by the virtual rock band Gorillaz.

Over on the film side of things, Haruka Abe has appeared in movies like 47 Ronin, About Time, The Knife That Killed Me, Random 11, She's Just a Shadow, and the 2021 Disney live-action 101 Dalmatians origin story Cruella.

Takehiro Hira (Kenta)

Takehiro Hira portrays the antagonistic and revenge-driven Kenta, who is hellbent on getting back at Clan Arashikage after he was booted from the group and joined up with Cobra. A veteran of theatre, film, and television, Hira has appeared in movies like Memories of Tomorrow, The Floating Castle, Ace Attorney, The Eternal Zero, and Lost Girls & Love Hotels, to name only a few. His television credits, which are in the dozens, include The Life of Juzo Itami, Sanada Maru, Yasuke, and Absolute Zero among many, many more.

Throughout his stage career, Takehiro Hira has taken on roles in a number of different Shakespeare productions including King Lear, Hamlet, and Othello.

Peter Mensah (Blind Master)

Taking on the role of Blind Master in Snake Eyes is Peter Mensah. Prior to his portrayal of the co-leader and trainer of Clan Arashikage, Mensah appeared in movies like Jason X, Tears of the Sun, and Hidalgo, but most will remember the actor from being the Persian messenger on the receiving end of Leonidas’ (Gerard Butler) “This is Sparta!” kick in 300. In the years following the eye-catching Zack Snyder Greek epic, Mensah has gone on to show up in The Incredible Hulk, Kevin Hart: What Now?, and Rise.

Peter Mensah also has a prolific television career with multiple one-off appearances on shows like La Femme Nikita, Star Trek: Enterprise, and True Blood. Mensah also had a major role on Starz’s Spartacus franchise, where he portrayed Oenomaus. He also appeared on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Sleepy Hollow, and Departure in recent years.

Steven Allerick (Snake Eyes’ Father)

And then there is Steven Allerick who portrays Snake Eyes’ father. Prior to joining the Snake Eyes cast, Allerick appeared in a recurring guest role on The Expanse back in 2019 and The Fix before that. Over the years, Allerick has showed up on everything from Fear the Walking Dead to Colony and multiple others in between. Allerick got his first big break in show business with his portrayal of Simba in multiple off-Broadway productions of The Lion King.

These are just the main members of the Snake Eyes cast as there are multiple other actors and martial artists taking on smaller roles in the G.I. Joe origin story. Now that you’ve seen the movie and read about the all-star cast, why not check CinemaBlend’s 2021 movie premiere schedule to see what other movies will join Snake Eyes at the box office this summer and beyond. Just don't forget about all the other Paramount Pictures movies coming to theaters this year including Top Gun: Maverick.

Martial arts are making a mainstream comeback in 2021. Mortal Kombat, released earlier this year, relied on kung-fu fighting techniques as it reinvigorated the video game universe. The Marvel Cinematic Universe intends to put its one stamp on karate epics with September’s Shang-chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. And this weekend, Paramount will wade back into the franchise waters of G.I. Joe with an origin story for the silent ninja, Snake Eyes (Henry Golding). But with this action comes unusual challenges.

The fight scenes in Snake Eyes are bone-crunching. The way that Robert Schwentke (RED, R.I.P.D.) directs his action, you feel the impact of every punch and kick thrown. But during an interview with Snake Eyes co-star Andrew Koji, he shares a very specific ninja technique that simply can NOT be done practically, and it’s pretty funny. Watch our video above to hear his story.

There’s no denying the fact that ninjas look totally badass when portrayed properly on screen. There are moments in Snake Eyes when either Henry Golding or Andrew Koji strike warrior poses with samurai swords in hand, ready to dispense with some antagonists -- or fight against each other -- that Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins really roars to life. The heart of the movie, in my opinion, rests in the rivalry that is forged between Golding’s Snake Eyes and Koji’s Storm Shadow. Initially, it’s a bond of trust. But the moment that bond gets broken, we see the foundation of the struggle that these classic G.I. Joe characters will endure for a lifetime.

In order to establish that emotional core, Henry Golding and Andrew Koji bonded over personal connections that the actors shared. Physically, though, Snake Eyes meant training. And when he was in his classic Storm Shadow suit, Koji realized how hard (actually impossible) it was to remove his sword from the sheath on his back. As he told CinemaBlend:

Now you know, when you go to see Snake Eyes, that every time Snake or Storm Shadow removing the sword from their back to plunge into battle, it is a CGI sword that has been enhanced because longer swords can not be removed that way. How do real ninjas do it?!

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins looks to revive the Hasbro toy franchise on screen after two previous films (that are not connected to this installment). It features other recognizable G.I. Joe characters such as Scarlett (Samara Weaving) and Baroness (Ursula Corbero). It opens in theaters beginning on July 23.

Henry Golding’s next blockbuster is almost here! The actor, known for such films as Crazy Rich Asians and Last Christmas, stars as Snake Eyes in Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins (also known simply as Snake Eyes). In the superhero film (which serves as an origin story for the character) a mysterious lone fighter, known only as "Snake Eyes,” is welcomed into and trained by an ancient Japanese ninja clan called the Arashikage. But he finds his loyalties being tested when secrets from his past are revealed, as he eventually goes on the path to become the famous G.I. Joe hero. Along with Golding, the cast includes Andrew Koji, Úrsula Corberó, Samara Weaving, and Iko Uwais.

Henry Golding himself has hinted at a connection between the film and the G.I. Joe multimedia franchise, which will be important for fans. We’ll soon be able to see the connections for ourselves, as the film releases this Friday, July 23. Critics have started publishing their reviews of the movie, so let’s take a look.

Why don’t we start on the CinemaBlend side of things. Our very own Eric Eisenberg was somewhat disappointed with the action flick, rating it 3 out of 5 stars. His main critique is that while Henry Golding is supposed to be the main protagonist, “co-star Andrew Koji winds up pulling off one of the more impressive spotlight-stealing performances in recent memory as Tommy.” While Eisenberg noted that it’s not necessarily a bad thing for a supporting character to outshine a lead, it just highlights the lack of focus in the movie. He argued that there’s too much plot thrown at the audience that doesn’t always make sense, and said:

William Bibbiani from TheWrap also considered Snake Eyes a mediocre movie. He commented on the rushed plot, noting that the film jumped ahead too much and the audience had to struggle to catch up. He argued that the character of Snake Eyes didn’t even drive the story so much as got dragged around from one exposition scene to the next. He did note that at least Golding and Koji had a lot of chemistry, which is all the film had to offer for too much of its runtime. Bibbiani said:

The negative reviews of Snake Eyes continue with Aaron Neuwirth’s review from We Live Entertainment. He had many criticisms of the action film, from the badly shot and un-enjoyable action sequences (which is kind of a problem in an action movie) to the all-too-predictable character arc of the titular Snake Eyes. He did enjoy Koji’s performance as Tommy (definitely sensing a pattern in these reviews), but commented that the rest of the cast unfortunately doesn’t bring much more to the table. Neuwirth said:

That all-too-predictable arc of the main character is seen in multiple reviews. For instance, Lindsey Bahr from Associated Press argued that Golding’s character is just “woefully generic,” and thought that while Golding has an effortless charisma that huge movie stars possess, he wasn’t the right actor for the part. While she did enjoy some of the cinematography and a few other characters, like Koji’s Tommy (yep, definitely sensing a pattern here), her main criticism is of the titular character, saying:

John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter had a bit more positive opinion of Snake Eyes. While he also thought, like previous critics, that the screenplay failed to make the titular character compelling, and that the plot was too silly and convoluted, he did enjoy the action sequences. He also commended Golding’s charisma in his role, and applauded some of the fantastical elements of the film. DeFore said:

Critics sure seem to have quite a few negative opinions of Snake Eyes. For an action film, they sure seem to be criticizing the actual action (though Henry Golding has shared a behind the scenes video of an intense sequence that looks pretty cool). Will audiences enjoy the flick more than these critics have? We'll soon find out, as the movie releases in theaters tomorrow, July 23.

In the meantime, plan your next movie-going experience with our summer movie release guide.

In modern franchise filmmaking, origin stories play a key role. In essence, they are meant to be a launching pad – adding greater depth and history to particular characters in the aim of expanding fan bases and building potential for the future. In this regard, Robert Schwentke’s Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins is technically successful… though in ways unexpected and surprising. Why? Because while the title of the new film suggests that Henry Golding’s central protagonist is the main event, co-star Andrew Koji winds up pulling off one of the more impressive spotlight-stealing performances in recent memory as Tommy, the friend of Snake Eyes’ whom fans know eventually becomes the villainous Cobra agent known as Storm Shadow.

This inherently isn’t a bad thing, as there’s nothing generally wrong with a supporting player outshining a lead – but the circumstance does encapsulate what is ultimately the biggest issue with the movie: a lack of focus. As it weaves the story of how Snake Eyes goes from being an orphan to an elite member of the counterterrorist G.I. Joes, the film throws a lot of plot at the audience, and while it has a number of solid stretches, it also regularly feels jumbled and not entirely confident in itself (which is a criticism that applies to both the narrative and the action aesthetic).

Scripted by Evan Spiliotopoulos, Joe Shrapnel, and Anna Waterhouse, Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins begins with the titular character’s tragic backstory – watching his father get murdered by a group of mysterious mercenaries as a child – and catches up with him as an adult who lives as a drifter going city-to-city winning money in underground fighting competitions. He is directionless beyond his desire to get revenge against the men who killed his dad, and this makes him an easy seduction target for Yakuza boss Kenta (Takehiro Hira), who offers Snake Eyes information about the mercenary leader in exchange for the talented fighter to come work for his organization.

Weeks later he is working in the Port Of Los Angeles cutting open fish so that they can be used to discretely ship weapons – but operations stop when Kenta arrives and tells Snake Eyes that he must kill one of his co-workers, the aforementioned Tommy, who is a spy from an enemy clan. He opts to save Tommy’s life instead, and, after fighting their way through Kenta’s men, they escape to Tokyo.

Snake Eyes learns that Kenta is Tommy’s cousin, and, like him, was next in line to be the leader of the Arashikage Clan, but he was banished after he attempted to murder Tommy. Welcoming his new friend into his home, Tommy vouches for Snake Eyes to his grandmother (Eri Ishida) and the Arashikage head of security, Akiko (Haruka Abe), and wants him to become a part of his clan – a process that requires passing three trials.

What Tommy doesn’t know, however, is that Snake Eyes has never stopped working for Kenta, and secretly has his own motivations inside the walls of the Arashikage compound.

Snake Eyes juggles a lot of balls in its plot, and it can’t keep them all in the air at all times.

Between Snake Eyes’ duplicity and desire for revenge, the initiation into the Arashikage, and Kenta’s secret plan, not to mention all of the interpersonal conflicts, and more direct G.I. Joe vs. Cobra action with Scarlett (Samara Weaving) and The Baroness (Úrsula Corberó), Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins has a hell of a lot going on, and it doesn’t always succeed in keeping things flowing. As the various plot elements overlap, it’s weirdly easy to forget about certain elements of the story, and then be surprised when they return. There’s such a big gap between Scarlett’s first and second scenes that you wonder if the character has just disappeared altogether, and the movie never finds elegant ways to go back to the tests that Snake Eyes must pass to get into the clan.

Henry Golding is good in Snake Eyes, but Andrew Koji is great.

What’s really baffling, though, is the way in which the film establishes its characters (and I should note at this point that I’m not particularly well-versed in the canon of the G.I. Joe franchise). Henry Golding’s Snake Eyes is certainly the protagonist, but he is most definitely not a hero; in fact, he operates like a villain through most of the runtime –portrayed as a revenge-blinded backstabber who is willing to betray a mindful, peace-seeking group that takes him in as family. This in mind, it really isn’t all that surprising that Andrew Koji is able to swoop in and steal the movie away from him, as Tommy represents the values that one expects from the lead in a superhero blockbuster (not to mention his terrific charisma and talented physicality).

The story does wind up changing the ways in which I look at the characters, and under different circumstances I might call this approach impressive in its attempt to subvert the typical, but all of it comes across as too messy to wholeheartedly celebrate.

Lots of hand-held cinematography prevents the action in Snake Eyes from ever popping.

“Messy” is a good adjective to also carry over into the conversation about the action in Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins. This is a franchise title that, thanks to its premise and ensemble, has the opportunity to feature some of the best fight sequences modern Hollywood has to offer outside of the John Wick films, but it’s an opportunity squandered. Robert Schwentke demonstrates a real love for the use of hand-held shooting in scenes of both sword and gun play, and that’s understandable logically (it’s cinematography that lets the audience feel like they are getting a first person perspective), but it’s mostly a failure practically.

The film features a number of intense chases and showdowns – on highways and rooftops and in alleyways and snake pits – but it’s constantly hard to get a beat on what’s happening because the camera is constantly moving around. It’s frustrating because there’s a lot of stuff you’d love to get a clear look at, such as the brilliantly skilled Iko Uwais as one of the Masters of the Arashikage clan single-handedly taking on a collection of ninjas, but you can’t because the cinematography doesn’t allow it.

Seeing the situation from the director’s point of view, Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins is a PG-13 movie, meaning that it needs to feature bloodless swordfights, and that fact may have forced Schwentke’s hand as far as showcasing violence. That’s only an excuse, however, and doesn’t make up for how vexing the action can be overall.

It’s surprisingly been eight years since the last G.I. Joe blockbuster, with Jon Chu’s G.I. Joe: Retaliation released back in early 2013, but time hasn’t done much to improve things as far as quality is concerned. There is enough to appreciate in Snake Eyes to call it a mediocre movie, but it’s tough because there exists so much potential in it to be better than it is. At the very least it could have been retitled Storm Shadow: Cobra Origins to give due respect to the true star of the show.

There’s a Catch-22 at play when you hire someone as handsome and charismatic as Henry Golding to play Snake Eyes in a new G.I. Joe movie. The studio is paying for this globally recognized actor, and then covering his face entirely with the mask that is the signature headpiece of the classic Hasbro ninja. Because Golding is stepping into the role of Snake Eyes in the aptly titled Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, this is his first dance with the mask, and how best to act through it. When speaking to CinemaBlend about the pros and cons, he had plenty to say… while also thinking ahead to how they might handle the mask in Snake Eyes sequels. Listen to a snippet of our conversation above.

Snake Eyes isn’t one of those characters you can cheat with when it comes to his mask. It looks the way that it looks, and if you mess with it, you risk the chance of alienating the die-hard G.I. Joe fans whom you want to come out and support your story. The bulk of Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins is spent watching Snake Eyes (Henry Golding) train, climbing the ranks of the Arashikage clan and forging a bond with Tommy (Andrew Koji), a “brother” who will one day become a rival. Only later in the film does Golding assume the Snake Eyes persona and the costume that comes with it, and when it came to that garb, the actor told CinemaBlend:

But once Henry Golding has become Snake Eyes fully in the franchise, is it necessary for the actor to keep wearing the mask for the duration of upcoming sequels? If the actor’s face is hidden, a movie could get away with hiring (less expensive) stunt doubles. But that takes away from the impact of Golding’s potential performance. There’s an emotional core to the story being told in Snake Eyes, particularly as it pertains to the rivalry between the main character and Storm Shadow (Koji). Taking the tools away from Golding that he uses to sell that relationship could be detrimental.

Or, as Henry Golding went on to explain to CinemaBlend:

Henry Golding brings up a good point. This is a side of Snake Eyes that we have not seen in the G.I. Joe stories to date (especially on the big screen). But just because we haven’t seen Snake removing his helmet in between missions, or even relying on his real face to potentially go undercover, doesn’t mean it can’t happen. Golding also reassures fans that if they play around with the mask moving forward, nothing will ever remove the mask permanently. He said:

It would be a balance, but one that the franchise certainly could pull off. In a way, it’d be a little bit like Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and the face-covering Iron Man suit. Or even Marvel’s Spider-Man, who fights several battles with a mask, but removes it when need be. I wonder if Joe fans will have more problems with Snake Eyes speaking, if he eventually does? That’s a discussion for a different day.

For now, Henry Golding can be seen in Snake Eyes when it reaches theaters this Friday, July 23.

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins will finally put the beloved title G.I. Joe character in the spotlight. But one question has been lingering: will the film tap into the ultimate amount of source material accessible to it? The film’s lead, Henry Golding, hinted at an overall connection between every facet of the multimedia franchise. The Snake Eyes star spoke on the Easter eggs spread throughout the prequel.

Snake Eyes has so much to draw from, including the long-running comic series, the first two films and countless animated series. Henry Golding knew how important connecting all the branches together would be for fans. Golding said the following about incorporating G.I. Joe’s illustrious mythology into the prequel:

Having G.I. Joe Easter eggs spread throughout the film will integrate the lore cultivated over decades of comics and various projects. In the original G.I. Joe films, there were sprinklings of the franchise’s mythology. So Snake Eyes will follow in that tradition while fleshing out a beloved character. As Henry Golding pointed out, drawing from all these sources can only enhance the story and characters. The latest Snake Eyes trailer made the connections noticeably clear.

The Easter eggs can also work in reigniting the G.I. Joe franchise. Along with Snake Eyes, there is a streaming series based on Lady Jaye currently in development at Amazon Studios. With two properties going, it appears Hasbro is placing all its effort into making the dormant franchise profitable once more.

After speaking on the G.I. Joe Easter eggs, the Snake Eyes star gave some insight into his version of the character. Henry Golding revealed to Entertainment Tonight that his portrayal will focus on someone “full of flaws” compared to the more masculine and mysterious Snake Eyes take in the first two G.I. Joe films. Given the film is a prequel, it appears viewers will see how Snake Eyes became the beloved stealthy ninja fans still love. But this angle isn’t a real surprise as seen in the explosive Snake Eyes trailer.

But the trailer hasn’t been the only thing to get moviegoers excited about Snake Eyes. Henry Golding has been hyping fans for months. Whether it’s choreography videos or documenting film re-shoots, the Snake Eyes star has been building anticipation for the prequel. All this hype will pay off when the film arrives in theaters on July 23 after multiple delays over the years. Check out our ticket giveaway to see the film in theaters!

With the summer movie season well underway, so are adrenaline-rush action films. Amidst the return of Fast and Furious’ high-octane car chases with F9 or the Marvel Cinematic Universe making its comeback this week with Black Widow, we can look forward to the G.I. Joe spinoff film Snake Eyes. The movie will be loaded with sword and martial arts fights and the movie’s star Henry Golding has shared an early look at what to expect from the flick.

The Crazy Rich Asians breakout star trained hard to portray Snake Eyes for the upcoming movie. He recently took to Instagram to give fans a behind-the-scenes look at what rehearsal looked like ahead of filming one of the movie’s intense sequences. Check it out below,

Whew. That’s a lot of sick moves Henry Golding is pulling off. As the set video shows, the actor worked with a number of talented stunt performers himself when taking on the G.I. Joe character. During the video, you can see the actor is nailing all the moves as he uses a sword to fight off a group of guys. While it looks like a real fight when we see it on the big screen, it’s actually a choreographed sequence practiced over and over until the team gets it right.

Henry Golding posted the video along with saying “drill it till you’re raw” – perhaps a motto of sorts on the set. The actor said Snake Eyes had “some of the best stunt performers from around the world” on the set to share their wisdom with him. He is proud of his work on the project and with just over two weeks until the movie is released, Golding is getting hyped to share it with theater-going audiences. Check out the latest Snake Eyes trailer below:

When Golding first took on the lead role of Snake Eyes, the actor admitted it was a “painful” process due to all the physical work involved on set. As he previously recalled his first impressions in the role:

Henry Golding is just getting started in Hollywood really. The 34-year-old got his start in movies in 2018 as the leading man in Crazy Rich Asians and has since been nabbing roles left and right, including with Last Christmas and The Gentlemen. Snake Eyes will be his biggest role yet, as he is taking on a well-known action character and taking on top billing for the first time in his career.

Snake Eyes will explore the origins of the sword-wielding martial artist and his relationship with his famed rival Storm Shadow. The movie hits theaters on July 23.

If you’re going to reboot a property like the G.I. Joe mythos, you need to pick the right way in. As if announcing Crazy Rich Asians’ Henry Golding in the lead role wasn’t enough of a best foot forward for Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, a new trailer has arrived with even more hints that this fresh chapter is looking mighty fine. Not only do we see more of Golding in action as the titular assassin, but we also see the universe of Hasbro’s iconic toy line starting to shape up through some familiar connections and fresh visuals.

Thanks to a new trailer dropped by Paramount today, the world can now see a little more of what the Snake Eyes origin story has to offer. And if you weren’t counting on explosions, dazzling martial arts with swordplay, and shadowy organizations looking to destabilize world order, well welcome to the world of G.I. Joe. And what a dangerous, exciting and unpredictable world it is.

Part of that world is the people that are in it, and director Robert Schwentke’s Snake Eyes is all about showing us the players that make up both sides of the coin. In addition to Henry Golding’s Snake Eyes, we also see his future G.I. Joe teammate, Scarlet, for the first time, played by Ready or Not’s Samara Weaving. But as anyone with even a passing familiarity with G.I. Joe will tell you, you can’t have the Joes without Cobra.

While the clandestine body of evil agents is mentioned as if they’re still pretty hidden in Snake Eyes, we aren’t shielded from seeing two of their operatives. From the beginning of this new look, we’re already introduced to Andrew Koji’s Tommy, the man who will become the Cobra operative known as Storm Shadow. However, we’re also treated to our first look at the infamous Baroness, played by Úrsula Corberó, who many will know from the Netflix drama Money Heist.

Both sides are preparing for war in Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, and not only will sides have to be taken, but weapons will need to be carefully chosen. From the looks of things, Henry Golding has definitely made his choices, and the results are going to be something to truly look forward to. Though now that Cobra’s been officially invoked, we’re really anxious to see who else he’ll be facing off against from this dastardly band of terrorists.

Snake Eyes opens in theaters on July 23rd, so you’ll need to find some other exciting adventures to watch in the meantime. Head over to our 2021 release schedule, and take a look at the competition. Much like Snake Eyes, or any other G.I. Joe player, it’s always wise to keep in mind that knowing is half the battle.

When Henry Golding brings the classic G.I. Joe character of Snake Eyes to the big screen in July’s Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, this will be a standalone film that has no connections to the two G.I. Joe movies more than 10 years ago. It’ll be an attempt to restart a franchise with a fresh approach centered around a rising star taking a shot at action. But that doesn’t mean that the new series can’t borrow a few tricks that worked in the earlier films.

The 2013 G.I. Joe sequel G.I. Joe: Retaliation took the excitement of the initial film but doubled down on all-star action talent. Where Channing Tatum led the first film, the second film rode on the broad shoulders of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Bruce Willis and the limber Ray Park as Snake Eyes. So when CinemaBlend got a chance to speak with Henry Golding to coincide with the new trailer drop, we asked him which classic action star he’d like to bring into his Snake Eyes franchise. And he didn’t hesitate to answer:

An easy answer. But also the right answer. Jackie Chan is, without question, one of the film industry’s most gifted, versatile, and miraculous action superstars. He spent decades performing his own acrobatic stunts in Asian cinema, and finally took his talents to Southern California for 1995’s memorable Rumble in the Bronx before hopping over to franchise work of his own in Rush Hour. In his prime, Jackie Chan looked like this when in action.

Mind you, Jackie Chan is now 67 years old now, and his most nimble action days are behind him. To give you an example of his current status as an action superstar, he was part of the remake of The Karate Kid… and he played the Mr. Miyagi role. Chan won’t be fighting opposite Henry Golding in a Snake Eyes/G.I. Joe movie. But even having him as some sort of mentor role, perhaps as a higher up in the G.I. Joe forces, would be enough to give Golding a real spark. It’d be a thrill for us, as audience members, too.

In order for Henry Golding to even have a chance to invite Jackie Chan for a Snake Eyes sequel, audiences have to show up for Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins first. They’ll get a shot when the movie opens in theaters on July 23.

The character of Snake Eyes from the G.I. Joe series has a few distinct qualities. Stealth and deadly, he moves like a ninja and fights like a samurai warrior. His headpiece is a signature design, covering his entire face to basically intimidate any foe he’s across from. And he’s silent -- though the cause of his silence has changed depending on which origin you choose to believe. So in the first teaser trailer for the upcoming Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, of course we get Henry Golding’s handsome face… and he’s talking!

Trust us, this all makes sense eventually. Watch the trailer above, and we will explain.

As you can tell, Snake Eyes will be an origin story of sorts for the assassin character of the title, before he’s recruited by the forces of G.I. Joe. Henry Golding plays the lead, a skilled fighter with a mysterious past who embarks on a journey of training that will one day turn him into the warrior G.I. Joe fans recognize. The trailer goes out of its way to emphasize this story as the “beginning” of Snake Eye’s long journey, and that it’s up to him on which path he chooses to venture.

While Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins focuses heavy on the early days of the main character, you can tell that there are traces of the G.I. Joe mythology already in play as the universe is mapped out and established. Bill & Ted Face the Music co-star Samara Weaving lands the coveted role in Snake Eyes as Scarlett, a character Joe fans know will grow to become a love interest for Henry Golding’s Snake.

Meanwhile, Snake Eyes casts Andrew Koji as Storm Shadow and Úrsula Corberó as The Baroness, two recognizable villains from the G.I. Joe canon. However, in an exclusive interview with CinemaBlend, Henry Golding told us that the characters we know as villains might not start that way in this film. Said Golding:

We should get a longer Snake Eyes trailer as we get closer to the film’s release date on July 23. Available only in theaters from Paramount, Snake Eyes looks to bolster what’s quickly becoming an exciting summer blockbuster season at the multiplex. Make sure you look over our 2021 Release Date Calendar to see what else is opening soon, so you can plan your trips to the movies accordingly.

When it comes to 1980s toy commercials that masqueraded as cartoons there are few as popular as G.I. Joe, and within G.I. Joe there are few characters as popular as Snake Eyes. This is likely why the character is getting his very own movie, starring Henry Golding in the lead role. The movie was set to release last fall, but like everything else it was delayed. This meant that we didn't get the normal media build up of posters and trailers so we've still never even seen our lead character, until now.

The first poster for Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins is finally here, and it shows Henry Golding in Snake Eyes traditional all black costume. His helmet is off, so that we can see Golding's face, but we still get to see the helmet itself so that we can get an idea of what he'll look like when it's time for action. Check it out.

Needless to say, Henry Golding looks absolutely perfect here. We've seen Snake Eyes in live-action before in the previous franchise of G.I. Joe movies, so we already have an expectation for a live-action Snake Eyes, but Golding's look should make any Snake Eyes fan happy. All the pieces we would expect to see in the costume are here. We can't wait to see Golding in action. And we won't have to wait too long. Along with the poster came the news that the first trailer for Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins will debut on Sunday as part of the MTV Movie and TV Awards.

The poster also does a great job of spotlighting what is sure to be one of the unique aspects of the Snake Eyes movie compared to many previous versions of the character. Frequently, Snake Eyes is a completely silent character who does not speak at all. He also wears his full costume at all times, so we never get to see his face. It seemed unlikely that was going to be the case in the Snake Eyes movie when they hired Henry Golding to play the part. Nobody hires Henry Golding to not show off his face, and the poster makes it clear we will.

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins is set to open in July, but the movie probably isn't quite done yet. Henry Golding was apparently filming reshoots as recently as this March. While reshoots for major films are far from unusual, the somewhat last minute nature of these was likely due to scheduling around the pandemic rather than any perceived issues with the movie.

The subtitle of the new movie implies we could see more G.I. Joe Origins films in the future. Although, there will still be plenty of popular G.I. Joe characters appearing in this one, as Samara Weaving is on board to play Scarlett, Úrsula Corberó is The Baroness and Andrew Koji will play Storm Shadow.

Dakota Johnson knows romance. Her time as Anastasia Steele in the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy made her a household name, with the films earning over $1 billion worldwide collectively. That experience makes her a natural choice to lead Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel Persuasion. Not only that, but she just got the perfect co-star: Henry Golding.

Deadline reports that Henry Golding has signed on to play the romantic lead opposite Dakota Johnson in Persuasion. The star of the upcoming G.I. Joe spinoff film Snake Eyes definitely has the chops. Golding made his breakthrough into the mainstream with his turn as Nick Young in the 2018 film Crazy Rich Asians. He departed from the romance genre in Paul Feig’s thriller A Simple Favor with Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick, only to return to the world of rom-coms in Last Christmas. The latter was also directed by Paul Feig and co-starred Daenerys Targaryen herself, Emilia Clarke. Similarly to Dakota Johnson, Golding’s resume makes casting him a no-brainer when it comes to a new romance movie.

The new film in question, Persuasion, will be an adaptation of Jane Austen’s 1817 novel. There won’t be any corsets, calling cards or horse-drawn carriages - this version will be set in the present day. The plot, however, is classic Austen: Anne Elliot, a young woman from a wealthy family (Dakota Johnson), crosses paths with her former fiancé, the formerly impoverished Captain Frederick Wentworth (Henry Golding) after a seven-year separation.

Now, however, the tables have turned. Anne’s family has run out of money, while Frederick made a fortune in the Navy. So no doubt class struggles will come into play. Much of last year’s charming remake of Emma (starring the fabulous Anya Taylor-Joy) focused on similar issues, with the title character convincing her friend to turn down a marriage offer from a suitor of modest means.

Are you looking for something swoon-worthy to tide you over until Dakota Johnson and Henry Golding grace our screens in Persuasion? If you like beautiful gowns and dashing men in ruffly shirts, season 1 of Shonda Rhimes’s steamy costume drama Bridgerton is streaming on Netflix. If it’s a modern tale you’re after, Netflix also has plenty of options, with the highlights including To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before with Lana Condor and Noah Centineo, and Always Be My Maybe with the hilarious Ali Wong and Randall Park.

Do you still need more after all that? Check out Cinema Blend’s guide to the latest Netflix releases. You can also keep track of what's supposed to hit theaters later this year with our upcoming 2021 movies schedule. And as per usual, keep checking back with CinemaBlend for the latest movie news.

The new Mortal Kombat movie debuted on HBO Max and in theaters last weekend and the movie is getting a decent amount of praise, all things considered. While it probably isn't the first great video game movie that many fans have been hoping for, it's a lot of fun in a lot of ways, and so it's certainly possible that once the smoke clears, we could see a sequel movie. Based on the Mortal Kombat ending, there's certainly a hope there will be a sequel, as the movie strongly indicates that one popular character from the video game franchise will appear if a sequel happens. We'll almost certainly see Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 2.

But if we're going to see Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 2, who could play the role of the Hollywood movie star turned fighter to the death? There aren't a lot of huge celebrities in the first Mortal Kombat, so it seems unlikely that we'll get major A-list talent in the sequel, but it's always possible. Whether it's an up-and-coming star or an established name, there are more than a few strong option for the future Johnny Cage, here are some of our top picks.

James Marsden

We should probably start off with an actor who at least one member of the current Mortal Kombat cast is in favor of, James Marsden. Josh Lawson, who played Kano in Mortal Kombat, suggested to CinemaBlend that James Marsden could play Johnny Cage, and honestly, yeah. That would work. Marsden, who played Scott Summers/Cyclops in the X-Men franchise, has a sort of classic leading man look, and we know he looks cool in a pair of sunglasses. At a certain point, that's all you really need to play Johnny Cage on paper. Of course, Marsden is more than that and could certainly do the job.

Henry Golding

Yes, yes, Johnny Cage is is traditionally depicted as a typical Hollywood action star, which is to say, a white dude, but there's nothing that really requires Johnny Cage actually be a white dude, and even the one slight glimpse we have of the character, a headless movie poster, leaves something to interpretation. And it wouldn't be the first movie to completely retcon something like this if necessary. Henry Golding has been mentioned in the same conversation as James Bond, and he's going to play Snake Eyes in the next G.I. Joe movie, and that means he has both the look, and the action pedigree required to be Johnny Cage.

The Miz

Whether or not somebody like James Marsden would take the role of Johnny Cage if it were offered to him, we don't really know yet, but there is one person that we know would take the gig, WWE's Mike "The Miz" Mizanin. The Miz has made it very clear already he wants to play Johnny Cage. The former WWE Champion, who has led his share of action movies, mostly within WWE's film division, basically plays a very Johnny Cage like character on television every week. He's a "hollywood guy" who has bought into his own press and thinks he's as cool as the characters he plays. It's hard not to agree with the Miz that in a lot of ways he'd fit quite well into the role.

Scott Adkins

Scott Adkins isn't a household name in the mainstream movie industry, but if you're a fan of the sort of action films that tend to get released direct-to-DVD, then you probably know him well. He's a trained martial artist known for the Undisputed and Debt Collector series of films. He was also Ryan Reynolds' stunt double in X-Men Origins: Wolverine and has appeared in Doctor Strange, and The Bourne Ultimatum. While Adkins doesn't usually play characters that act like they're the coolest guy in the room, there's no reason to believe he can't pull that off, while also looking like like he can break your face open.

Corey Hawkins

While Corey Hawkins' action movie filmography doesn't really include a Mortal Kombat style martial arts movie yet, he's done plenty of physical action movies to show that he could hold his own, not to mention playing the lead role in FOX's 24: Legacy. He doesn't usually have the size that the movie poster at the end of the Mortal Kombat seems to indicate, but that's what training is for. Yes, like Henry Golding, he might be a long shot, but not for any reason that's actually important to the role. Corey Hawkins is on his way to becoming a movie star, so he might as well start by playing one in a movie.

Chris Evans

Of all the names in this list, Chris Evans is probably the longest of shots. There are no "movie stars" in the cast of Mortal Kombat, and it seems unlikely that will change with any sequel, so getting Captain America himself in your video game movie sequel seems unlikely. Still, we have to put Evans on the list for the simple reason that, once upon a time, Chris Evans played Lucas Lee in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and that character is so close to being Johnny Cage that it would just be too perfect to get Evans to play a similar role in a Mortal Kombat movie.

Zac Efron

Zac Efron has movie star good looks. Zac Efron has played characters who are cocky and quite sure of their own abilities. Zac Efron has also put himself through the rigorous process of looking like a greek statue for a movie. Zac Efron could absolutely play Johnny Cage. If there's a downside here, it's that Efron has said in the past that the work that he did to get in shape for Baywatch isn't really something he's interested in doing again. But that doesn't mean the man couldn't do it.

Of course, the question right now isn't so much, who will play Johnny Cage as it is, will anybody play Johnny Cage? While Mortal Kombat set itself up for a sequel, there's no guarantee that one will happen. The movie has a significant amount of positive buzz, but without the box office receipts to back it up, it's far from clear what will be necessary to make a Mortal Kombat 2 actually happen. But if it does, there will likely be lots of options for the filmmakers to find their Johnny Cage.

As one of Hollywood’s rising stars, Henry Golding has shown his range through all his projects. Golding made the next logical step – being the lead in a big-budget blockbuster. The actor is expected to make a splash in the G.I. Joe spinoff Snake Eyes. While COVID-19 has delayed the action film multiple times, the film is on track to be released later this year. Recently, Golding hopped on social media to explain why he was back on the Snake Eyes set.

Last year, Henry Golding wrapped up Snake Eyes. For the actor, taking on the G.I. Joe-centric role marked his biggest role to date after successes such as Crazy Rich Asians and Last Christmas. Golding took to his Instagram to share his first day back on set. The actor revealed why he was shooting more Snake Eyes footage in a recent video:

As evident by the actor’s video, Henry Golding was ready and excited to back filming more scenes for Snake Eyes. Given the Hollywood shutdown in 2020, reshoots for the action film were put off until 2021. At this point, the actor is trying to maneuver all the safety guidelines and protocols set in Hollywood so the film can be completed. It’s nice to hear him be so optimistic about returning to work. Being an action-oriented film, it’s understandable that Golding, the cast and crew are being cautious as a film like this one with so much contact involved.

As Henry Golding mentioned, hopefully things will be back to normal in time. With vaccinations rolling out and mandates being in place, television and film productions will be back on track in the future. But Golding’s excitement for Snake Eyes isn’t something new to G.I. Joe fans. The actor spilled a bit of information last year about what to expect from the film. With the film just months away, Golding is poised to become an even bigger presence in Hollywood.

With Hollywood slowly reopening, stars such as Henry Golding seem ready to return to filming without all the circumstances surrounding COVID-19. Despite his optimism, Hollywood’s return to normalcy might be a slow process over months (if not, years). Everyone will have to wait until Oct. 22, 2021 to see Golding in action as Snake Eyes.

It’s been a while since the G.I. Joe franchise had some time to shine in a cinematic setting, but that will change soon. Nearly a decade after the release of G.I. Joe: Retaliation, the G.I. Joe film series is being rebooted with Snake Eyes, which stars Crazy Rich Asians actor Henry Golding in the eponymous role. As a result of the current health crisis, we’re still a ways off from Snake Eyes’ arrival, but Golding has provided some cool teases about what’s to come.

Henry Golding appeared in a CCXP panel with writer Larry Hama, who’s quite familiar with Snake Eyes from his time penning numerous G.I. Joe comic book series over the years, including Marvel’s G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero from 1982 to 1994. During the Q&A portion of the panel, Iwo Uwais, who stars as Hard Master in Snake Eyes, asked Golding what fans can expect from the movie. The actor responded thusly:

Although Ray Park’s version of Snake Eyes was certainly an important character in 2009’s G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and 2013’s Retaliation, he wasn’t the star of either of those shows, so there wasn’t a whole lot of time to delve into his backstory and motivations. Needless to say that won’t be a problem in the Snake Eyes movie, with Henry Golding explaining how this reboot won’t stray from highlighting both the title character’s strengths and flaws in the midst of all the action. And as one familiar with the G.I. Joe mythology would expect, it’ll also delve deeply into Snake Eyes’ connection to Storm Shadow, who’s being played by Warrior’s Andrew Koji.

Following Henry Golding’s explanation, Larry Hama wanted fans listening to the panel to understand that the martial arts action in Snake Eyes is what makes it stand out from the prior G.I. Joe movies. As he put it:

Outside of Snake Eyes serving as an origin story, no specific plot details have been revealed yet. That said, along with the aforementioned individuals, the movie also stars Peter Mensah as Blind Master, Úrsula Corberó as Baroness and Samara Weaving as Scarlett, and Haruka Abe, Takehiro Hira and Steven Allerick have been cast in undisclosed roles. Red’s Robert Schwentke directed the feature, and Beauty and the Beast’s Evan Spiliotopoulos wrote the screenplay. A follow-up movie to Snake Eyes has reportedly been in the works since last May that will not be a direct sequel, but will build upon the events that unfold in Snake Eyes.

Snake Eyes is currently slated for October 22, 2021, but should that change, we’ll be sure to let you know. In the meantime, scan through our 2021 release schedule to learn what other movies are coming out next year.

Although we’ve yet to see it, Henry Golding has already suited up to portray Snake Eyes for Paramount’s G.I. Joe spinoff. The upcoming action flick places the hunky Crazy Rich Asians and The Gentleman actor at the forefront of his own franchise. But, Golding is already being honest about it not being an easy shoot.

Back in February, Henry Golding wrapped filming on Snake Eyes, a movie he believes will breath new life into the G.I. franchise that have been dormant since 2013’s G.I. Joe: Retaliation. Here’s how the British actor remembers the shoot:

That’s some refreshing candidness from Henry Golding during his interview with NME. These days we’re so used to actors learning choreography and new skills for a role that we don’t bat at an eye at their accomplishments. But as Golding talks about here, becoming Snake Eyes came with a lot of blood, sweat and tears.

As he teases, his role was a lot more martial arts-heavy than other films in the genre might be, so he was doing some intense fight training and choreography that was “painful” and hellish, as he puts it. Plus, this is Henry Golding’s most physical role yet, so it’s understandable that the experience was not an easy transition for the actor.

Golding’s first movie was 2018’s Crazy Rich Asians if you can believe it. After that movie blew up, he quickly nabbed a number of other high-profile roles including Paul Feig’s Last Christmas and Guy Ritchie’s The Gentleman. In Snake Eyes, he’s starring with Warrior’s Andrew Koji, who will play Snake Eyes’ nemesis Storm Shadow, Ready or Not’s Samara Weaving who's playing Scarlett and Money Heist’s Úrsula Corberó, who will take on Baroness.

Snake Eyes is said to be setting up a new era for the G.I. Joe movies, with Seberg writers Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse reportedly working on an additional spinoff within the universe. This follow-up will reportedly be hinted at during Snake Eyes but is not expected to be a straight Snake Eyes sequel.

Although if the movie plays its cards right, chances are Henry Golding could be hitting the gym again for another round in the future. After a recent delay, Snake Eyes is currently expected to hit theaters on October 21, 2021. You can check out what other movies are coming out next year with CinemaBlend’s 2021 release schedule here.

It seems like it has been forever since Paramount Pictures revealed Snake Eyes, the origin story of the fan-favorite character of the same name which will also reboot the dormant G.I. Joe franchise. With so much time passing between the project's initial announcement in May 2018, some fans of the classic character may be wondering what is going on with the Snake Eyes movie. So, for those fans (and everyone else who cares about the movie), here are seven quick things to know about the latest G.I. Joe movie.

The Snake Eyes Movie Will Drop In Theaters July 2021

Pretty much every movie that was supposed to come out in 2020 has either skipped its theatrical run or was pushed back, and Snake Eyes is no different. The origin story was originally supposed to be released in theaters on October 23, 2020, but with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing cinemas to have limited seating or remain closed entirely, Paramount decided to play it safe and delay the release nearly a year to the day with a new premiere of July 23, 2021.

Principal Photography Wrapped In February 2020

This extended delay, however, has little to do with the production being shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic as principal photography for Snake Eyes wrapped in February 2020, just weeks before the entertainment industry was brought to an abrupt halt. The announcement that shooting had wrapped came via an Instagram post from the film's lead, who praised the cast and crew for everything they did during the shoot in locations such as Vancouver, Canada and Japan. It still remains to be seen, however, if there will be any reshoots required ahead of the action flick's July 2021 release.

Crazy Rich Asians Star Henry Golding Plays Snake Eyes

Henry Golding has had a remarkable run with things since landing one of the leading roles in the 2018 romantic comedy juggernaut Crazy Rich Asians, and he hasn't lost any momentum since. Now the Malaysian-British actor will have a chance to show off his action skills when he stars as Snake Eyes in the upcoming G.I. Joe reboot. News of Golding being tied to Snake Eyes was first announced by Variety in August 2019, and has since been confirmed by the actor himself. The A Simple Favor and Last Christmas actor even shared a black-and-white photo on Instagram in February 2020:

The mysterious image showing Henry Golding's Snake Eyes character walking up a set of stairs at what appears to be a temple is pretty, pretty cool, and surely can't hurt the hype surrounding the movie.

Andrew Koji Plays Snake Eyes' Rival Storm Shadow

What would Snake Eyes be without his longtime rival Storm Shadow? Luckily, we don't have to worry about that reality because Andrew Koji has been cast as Cobra Commander's ninja bodyguard. The British-Japanese actor who is probably best known for his roles in Furious 6 and the Bruce Lee-inspired Cinemax series Warrior, brings a resumé of acting and martial skills, as he has shown in his multiple film and television appearances. In Snake Eyes, Koji's Storm Shadow will be a special forces soldier who happens to be the heir to the Arashikage ninja clan, according to The Wrap.

The Rest Of The Snake Eyes Cast Is Just As Stacked

The inclusion of skilled martial artists doesn't start and stop with Andrew Koji, however, as one of the most talented and underrated action stars of the past decade has a role in Snake Eyes. Iko Uwais, who became a worldwide sensation with a career-making performance in 2012's The Raid: Redemption and its epic 2014 followup The Raid 2: Berandal. In the new G.I. Joe movie, Uwais will play Hard Master, the estranged uncle of Storm Shadow who also trains Snakes Eyes in the hero's early days, as Empire previously reported.

In addition to Henry Golding, Andrew Koji, and Iko Uwais, the Snake Eyes cast also includes Money Heist star Úrsula Corberó as the movie's version of The Baroness, Ready or Not's Samara Weaving as Scarlett, and Peter Mensah (who is most well known for his role as the unfortunate messenger in 300) as Blind Master.

Robert Schwentke Is Snake Eyes' Director

The new Snake Eyes movie is directed by a filmmaker who is mostly known for big-budget blockbusters like the Divergent sequels Insurgent and Allegiant, as well as Red and R.I.P.D., but Robert Schwentke has made some noteworthy movies outside of the action thriller genre with The Time Traveler's Wife and more recently with The Captain. The German director was first attached to movie based on the successful Hasbro line back in December 2018 when Deadline reported that Paramount was looking at hiring him for the third entry in the G.I. Joe franchise.

A Followup G.I. Joe Movie Is Already In The Works

And even though the theatrical release of Snake Eyes is more than a year out, Paramount and Hasbro are already planning a follow-up to the G.I. Joe reboot. In May 2020, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that the studio and toy brand planned on coming together to write another movie set in the same universe. According to the report, the untitled follow-up will build on the events of Snake Eyes in an attempt to expand the franchise, but reportedly will not serve as a traditional sequel to the 2021 action film.

There is still a lot about Snake Eyes that remains unknown at this point, so make sure to check back for updates as we push towards its July 23, 2021 release date. If you want to know what other movies are coming out next year, make sure to check out CinemaBlend's 2021 New Movie Release guide.

If you’re one of the actors who has found himself on the various shortlists trying to predict the next James Bond, you’re going to get asked a lot of questions about your chances of landing the gig. Henry Golding is no exception, as his name has been one of the most hotly talked about prospects on the list to potentially play the next Bond. Now, a recent interview has tapped him for some thoughts on 007’s future. Not shy to provide insight, Golding had another on brand and diplomatic response when it came to this particularly interesting subject.

Providing a personal caveat that he wasn’t “being drawn into this trap” of questioning about whether or not he could land the role, Henry Golding still had some strong feelings about the future of 007. Those feelings, provided in an interview with The Guardian, are pretty close to what several folks have said in the recent past about this historic role. Golding’s specific thoughts are as follows:

So while Henry Golding isn’t exactly putting himself out there for the role specifically, or putting anyone else specific up for it for that matter, he’s definitely on board for a change of pace for James Bond in terms of the very traditional casting route the franchise has usually gone in. As Daniel Craig is drawing his time as Bond to a close with No Time To Die, fans have been looking ahead to where 007 could go with the next actor in the role for Bond 26 and plenty of diverse choices have been bandied about in regards to where the role could go.

For example, Idris Elba has been a longtime favorite, in regards to the odds and the fans, for becoming the next James Bond. While some people have even written him off as having aged out of the role, the Elba candidacy does seem to show that Henry Golding’s thoughts on diversifying the role aren’t out of line with the modern perception of James Bond. So why not an Asian lead taking on the character?

However, part of Henry Golding’s forward-thinking statement can already be taken out of the equation, at least for the time being, as the future of 007 isn’t going to be female. That’s not to say that we couldn’t finally see someone like Lashana Lynch’s Nomi or even Naomie Harris’ Moneypenny get a spin-off in universe; but one of the series’ bosses, producer Barbara Broccoli, has gone on record in the past that Bond himself will remain male. That claim is further evidenced by the fact that Broccoli and EON Productions tried their hands at a franchise that could have been considered the proper female successor to the Bond legacy with Blake Lively’s The Rhythm Section.

All told, if there was ever a franchise that told us never to say never again, it’s the James Bond legacy. Anything can happen at this point, and Henry Golding understands that rather nicely. So ultimately, this is a subject we’ll want to keep all of our eyes trained on, and CinemaBlend will definitely keep reporting the news on who looks like the next hot shot sent to the tailors for a tuxedo of their own. Meanwhile, No Time To Die is currently slated for release in theaters on November 20th, but don't forget to check out the 2020 release schedule to see what else is still on track for a theatrical bow in the remaining months of this year.

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Based on the novel of the same name by Kevin Kwan, Crazy Rich Asians became one of the biggest movies of 2018. Both a critical and commercial hit, earning over $200 million worldwide and securing several award nominations, Jon M. Chu's film adaptation was the first major Hollywood movie since 1993's The Joy Luck Club to feature a majority cast of actors of Asian descent inside a modern setting, and it was certainly a well-received film. With plans to turn the film into a trilogy set in place for sometime in the near future, we'll return to these romantic cast of characters, played by Henry Golding, Constance Wu, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh, and more, soon. But since its major success, many of the movie's stars have only continued to see their stars shine brighter. Let's take a look at what Crazy Rich Asians cast has been working since the film's release.

Constance Wu (Rachel Chu)

An actress who found her breakthrough role with ABC's Fresh Off the Boat, Crazy Rich Asians proved to be a major breakout for the actress, leading her to more career possibilities. Notably following her Golden Globe-nominated performance in that film, becoming only the fourth Asian woman to be nominated for that award, Wu was seen in the lead role in the acclaimed crime drama, Hustlers, which also starred Jennifer Lopez. Wu also played a voice-only role in the animated movie, Next Gen. Up next, Wu will be seen in the drama film, I Was A Simple Man, and she'll also lend her voice to Wish Dragon. She also recently appeared in the sixth and final season of the aforementioned Fresh Off the Boat, and it appears that she wasn't thrilled about the acclaimed show being renewed for that many seasons, as she made clear on Twitter.

Henry Golding (Nick Young)

A Malaysian-born English actor, model, and TV host, Henry Golding gained fame across the pond, notably as the host of BBC's The Travel Show, but he became an international success when he played the romantic lead in Crazy Rich Asians, which became his first professional acting credit. Since starring in this box office smash, Golding continues to gain more high-profile roles, notably in 2018's A Simple Favor and as the romantic lead in last year's Last Christmas, which also starred the actor's Crazy Rich Asians co-star, Michelle Yeoh. Most recently, Golding starred in Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen. Up next, the rising performer will play the title role in Snake Eyes, which is expected to be released later this year (or perhaps next year, at this point). Golding will also soon set to be seen in the romantic drama Monsoon, which will get its stateside release soon.

Michelle Yeoh (Eleanor Sung-Young)

A Malaysian actress who became famous in the 1990s through Hong Kong action films, then became an international success thanks to Tomorrow Never Dies and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Crazy Rich Asians was one of Yeoh's biggest hits in recent years as she played the part of Eleanor Sung-Young, Nick's domineering mother. Since the film's release, Yeoh has also been seen in Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy and, most recently, Last Christmas. Though the actress has most prominently appeared on Star Trek: Discovery on CBS All Access. Up next, Yeoh is set to appear in a number of new movies, including Boss Level, Gunpowder Milkshake, and Everything Everywhere All At Once, but the biggest role she has coming up is a part in the forthcoming Avatar sequels. Yeoh is also lending her voice to Minions: The Rise of Gru, which will come out next year.

Awkwafina (Peik Lin Goh)

Awkwafina was previously best known as a rapper, though the performer only continues her ascension as a high-profile actress. Certainly, 2018 proved to be a big year for the rising actress, starring in Crazy Rich Asians and Ocean's 8 in the same summer, while her second EP, In Fina We Trust, was also released. The comedy star proved herself tremendously as a dramatic actress through her outstanding performance in The Farewell, for which she won a Golden Globe. Unfortunately, Awkwafina was snubbed at the Oscars. Awkwafina was also seen in Jumanji: The Next Level, and she stars, produces and writes the Comedy Central series, Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens. Next, Awkwafina stars in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Breaking News in Yuba County, and she'll soon be heard in Raya and the Last Dragon and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run.

Gemma Chan (Astrid Young Teo)

Playing fashion icon and socialite Astrid Leong-Teo, Gemma Chan had a standout role in Crazy Rich Asians. The English actress has appeared in several movies and TV shows, including Humans, Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Doctor Who, Transformers: The Last Knight, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, to name a few. Since Crazy Rich Asians, Chan has continued to build her resume. She appeared in Mary Queen of Scots, and she also starred in Captain Marvel. The actress also starred and co-wrote an episode of I Am and she provided her voice to BBC's Watership Down. Next, Chan will star in The Eternals and she also has a role in Steven Soderbergh's upcoming drama, Let Them All Talk, which hits HBO Max later this year.

Lisa Lu (Ah Ma)

A prolific, acclaimed actress with decades of experience to her name, Lisa Lu gave another strong performance in Crazy Rich Asians playing the part of Shang Su Yi, also known as Ah Ma. An actress/producer seen in The Last Emperor, Bonanza, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Joy Luck Club, and several other productions for both big and small screens, Lu is a celebrated actress with three Golden Horse Awards to her name from the 1970s. Since Crazy Rich Asians, Lu hasn't appeared in any other films or shows, though she did act in the short film Penzai. It's expected to be released soon.

Ken Jeong (Wye Mun Goh)

Best known for his work in Community and The Hangover trilogy, Ken Jeong is a dependable comedic talent, and he has stayed active in the past ten-plus years. One of Jeong's most noteworthy roles was Wye Mun Goh, the wealthy father of Peik Lin Goh (Awkwafina), in 2018's Crazy Rich Asians. Since then, the doctor-turned-comedian has starred in several movies and TV shows, including Lady and the Tramp, Fresh Off the Boat, Saving Zoe, Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween, and an Avengers: Endgame cameo. Additionally, Jeong provided voice roles in BoJack Horseman, Wonder Park, The Simpsons, and Bob's Burgers. He also had a Netflix special released in 2019 and he's currently seen as a panelist on The Masked Singer. Next, Jeong stars in My Spy, Boss Level, Tom & Jerry and more, including voice roles in Scoob!, The Emperor of Malibu, and Adventures in Wonder Park.

Sonoya Mizuno (Araminta Lee)

A Japanese-born British actress, ballet dancer, and model, Sonoya Mizuno has been seen in a variety of unique and exciting projects. In addition to her role in Crazy Rich Asians, where she played Araminta Lee, the bride-to-be and the heiress to a billion-dollar chain restaurant, Mizuno is best known for her work with writer-director Alex Garland. She has appeared in both of his directorial efforts, Ex Machina and Annihilation, and she was most recently seen in the lead role of Devs, his FX-Hulu mini-series, which premiered earlier this year. Additionally, in the fall of 2018, Mizuno starred in Netflix's mini-series, Maniac, where she played a prominent role. She was also recently seen in All About Nina and The Domestics. Next, Mizuno will star in the new HBO Max series, The Flight Attendant, alongside Kaley Cuoco.

Chris Pang (Colin Khoo)

As Colin Khoo, Araminta's fiancé and Nick's childhood best friend, Chris Pang played a prominent character in Crazy Rich Asians. An Australian actor-producer of Chinese descent, Pang was previously best known for 2010's Tomorrow, When the War Began before the 2018 romantic studio comedy. Since Crazy Rich Asians, Pang has been seen in last year's Charlie's Angels and Empty By Design, which he also produced. He was also recently cast in an untitled Amazon pilot from producer Jason Katims (Friday Night Lights, Parenthood). Pang is also soon set to be seen in the Sundance hit, Palm Springs, and he has a role in the upcoming sports movie, Underdogs Rising.

Jimmy O. Yang (Bernard Tai)

As the spoiled, party-loving former classmate of Colin Khoo and Nick Young, comedian Jimmy O. Yang gets a splashy, occasionally scene-stealing role in Crazy Rich Asians. Beyond this supporting role, Yang is best known for playing Jian-Yang in HBO's acclaimed Silicon Valley. That series wrapped its run after its sixth season aired late last year. Recently, Yang was seen in Like a Boss and Fantasy Island. He'll next star in Netflix's Space Force. He also appeared in The Simpsons and Fresh Off the Boat, which also stars Constance Wu, and he played a voice-only role in The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part. He'll next be seen in the lead role of The Opening Act, which also stars Ken Jeong, and he provides his voice to Wish Dragon. He also recently wrote a memoir titled How to American: An Immigrant's Guide to Disappointing Your Parents.

Who is your favorite Crazy Rich Asians star? Let us know in the comment section below.

Tyler Hoechlin may have cemented his place on CW’s lineup for this fall’s Superman And Lois, but the future of the big-screen Kryptonian is in a much more convoluted place. Henry Cavill’s Superman kicked off the DCEU back in 2013 with Man of Steel, but Warner Bros’ vision for its comic book universe has shifted quite a bit since. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that by the time a new script gets off the ground for the DC character to return, another actor may replace Henry Cavill.

I’ll admit, whilst compiling this list, it does remind one of just how perfect Henry Cavill is as Superman. The man just got the jaw for it, ya know? Justice League left some loose ends that the studio has slowly started to redeem with standalone movies for Wonder Woman, Aquaman and The Flash on the way. Henry Cavill's contract is up for Superman, but he did recently make it clear that he has “not given up on the role.” Even if he is Geralt of Rivia on The Witcher now. And we’ve just seen Robert Pattinson replace Ben Affleck in The Batman.

In other words, Henry Cavill is still my No. 1 Superman pick, but should the role be passed down here are some solid choices for Kal-El:

Richard Madden

Given there isn’t some kind of clause in his contract that he can’t play both a Marvel and DC hero, Richard Madden could pretty effortlessly take on the role of Sups. The actor is of course best known for his role as Robb Stark in Game Of Thrones, but he’s since kept busy in his Golden Globe-winning role Bodyguard and played John Reid in Rocketman. Next he’ll dive into the superhero realm in next year’s Eternals as Ikaris. The Scottish actor is a particularly good choice for Superman because well… just look at him. It also doesn't hurt that he has this mixture of charm and depth that the role calls for.

Armie Hammer

Back in 2008 when George Miller was going to make Justice League: Mortal, Armie Hammer was set to play Batman but the production ended up being scrapped due to the Writer’s Guild Strike. Batman is off the table for the Call Me By Your Name actor with Robert Pattinson stepping into that suit and that's A-OK because Superman might actually be a better choice for Hammer. Aside from the “good guy” vibe he gives off, he is an incredibly underrated talent that would thrive in the DCEU. He's been due a franchise for too long! Give The Man From U.N.C.L.E. another watch – him partnering up with Cavill shows he can rise to the occasion.

Michael B. Jordan

Remember all those “Michael B. Jordan could be the next Superman” rumors a few months back? Well, it stuck and got us thinking about it. Although Jordan could run into that whole aforementioned Marvel vs. DC clause with his Black Panther role (especially as the main villain of one of the MCU’s finest), why not Jordan? There’s the obvious “he doesn’t look like Superman” argument, but if we’re going for colorblind casting approach, he has really proven himself the past few years whether it be his role in Creed or Just Mercy. He’d undoubtedly work hard to match the physicality of Kal-El and knows how to balance humor with drama.

Miles Teller

Back in 2014, Miles Teller starred in Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash which is highly-regarded as one of the best movies of the 2000s’ thus far. Since the 33-year-old has been in the Divergent movies, The Spectacular Now and sadly Fantastic Four alongside Michael B. Jordan. He’s also set to play Goose’s son “Rooster” in the upcoming Top Gun: Maverick. The guy’s already got an impressive resume, real acting talent and I think he’d bring something unique and inspired to Superman if given the chance. Is typically cast as a kind of chip-on-his-shoulder character, so I’d be interested to see him take on the small-town Kansas alien.

Henry Golding

It’s been pretty amazing to see Henry Golding blow up the past couple years, so suddenly. 2018 became a perfect storm for the actor when he starred as the leading man in the record-breaking romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians and Paul Feig’s A Simple Favor in the same few months. Since he’s also been in Last Christmas, Guy Ritchie’s The Gentleman and he’s gearing up to play Snake Eyes. The reason why Golding is a good choice for Superman because he has that cereal-box pearly white smile and demeanor that oozes the superhero. He’s the kind of guy that can look intimidating but secretly wouldn’t kill a fly.

Tye Sheridan

If we’re looking for a younger Superman… or a Superboy if you will (hey, I don’t know Warner Bros plans, I have to cover my bases), may I recommend Tye Sheridan? You know him from Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One, as Cyclops in the X-Men prequels and a few hardcore roles such as in Joe, Dark Places and The Mountain. The 23-year-old is clearly a highly sought-after actor who has a bright future ahead of him. He has an emotional quality and likability to him that Kal-El could use in the often intense stories from the comic books.

Wes Bentley

For the opposite side of the spectrum onto the oldest actor on this list is Wes Bentley, who is 41 years old. The actor has had an impressive career with roles as Seneca Crane in The Hunger Games, Doyle in Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, Pete’s Dragon, Mission: Impossible - Fallout, American Horror Story and Yellowstone (whew)! But, wouldn’t it be interesting to see what he could do with a leading role and perhaps as a more seasoned Superman. We’ve seen the origin story quite a few times now, how does Clark Kent deal with things once he’s been at it for a while?

Of course no Superman would be a good one without a solid vision, script and filmmaker. We’ll have to wait and see how the future of Kal-El shakes out. Until then, vote for your favorite pick in the poll below or comment on your own choice.

This poll is no longer available.

It may have taken seven years to get a new G.I. Joe film going following 2013’s G.I. Joe: Retaliation, but things sure are moving now. It was only back in early January that we reported that the G.I. Joe spin-off Snake Eyes starring Henry Golding was starting production, and now a little less than two months later it’s apparently complete. Snake Eyes has already wrapped principal photography and star Henry Golding took to social media to celebrate. Take a look:

Looks official to me. To celebrate the end of production on Snake Eyes, Henry Golding shared an image of a slate from the film, complete with signatures presumably from members of the cast and crew. The slate also features a logo for the film, which interestingly incorporates the sigil of Cobra Commander, the primary villain of the G.I. Joe franchise and antagonist to Snake Eyes and his Joe colleagues. Perhaps that logo was just used for the slate before the other logo we saw back in January was settled on, or it just has something to do with the snake connection.

In celebrating the wrap of Snake Eyes' principal photography on Instagram, star Henry Golding praised the work of the film's crew. The film shot in Vancouver, Canada as well as in Japan in what must have been a whirlwind couple of months. It's entirely possible that reshoots could happen down the line, as they often do with big films, but right now it seems like things are moving quickly and smoothly for the production.

In addition to being thankful for the work everyone put in, the actor sounds excited for what they accomplished while shooting the film. Henry Golding teased that Snake Eyes is going to blow our socks off, and while we have a bit to wait to see if that’s true, it is certainly the hope. Snake Eyes is one of G.I. Joe’s most tenured characters and probably the most popular, making him the perfect choice to lead a G.I. Joe spin-off movie, among other reasons.

We only saw our first image from Snake Eyes a couple of weeks ago, teasing Henry Golding in the role of the titular master ninja, but with filming now done we’ll hopefully see some more stills from the movie before too long. And while it might be too tight time-wise, a teaser trailer for the ninja flick feels like it would pair quite nicely with the release of the MCU spy flick Black Widow in May.

Starring alongside Henry Golding in Snake Eyes are Andrew Koji as Storm Shadow, Úrsula Corberó as The Baroness, and Samara Weaving as Scarlett. On directing duties for the first, but perhaps not the last G.I. Joe spin-off film is RED director Robert Schwentke.

Snake Eyes is expected to sneak into theaters on October 23rd. Check out our 2020 Release Schedule to see what other movies are coming this year and stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest movie news.

Henry Golding is still relatively new in his career as a Hollywood leading man, but in what seems like no time at all, he’s gone from fronting romantic comedies to the precipice of becoming a full-on action star. Following his January turn in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen, Henry Golding will next star in the G.I. Joe spinoff Snake Eyes. Now, in the first photo from the film, Henry Golding has revealed a glimpse of his enigmatic and ultra-cool ninja. Take a look:

Henry Golding just celebrated a birthday, and rather than asking for a present from us, the rising star opted to give a gift to his fans, offering up this first photo from Snake Eyes, which is currently in production. And how appropriate it is that we don’t see Henry Golding’s face in our first look at the G.I. Joe spinoff movie.

The character of Snake Eyes, who is one of the most enduring and popular characters in the G.I. Joe multimedia franchise that extends back decades, is known for never revealing his face. I imagine that paradigm will be broken in the film itself, like it was for Judge Dredd and Boba Fett before him, but it’s cool that our first look at Snake Eyes is teasing that.

While the first photo from Snake Eyes, revealed by Henry Golding on his Instagram account, preserves some of the mystery of the master ninja, it still provides a very cool look at the movie. Here we see Henry Golding’s character ascending some ancient-looking steps towards what we can only presume to be a temple where he received some of his training. Perhaps it has to do with the Arashikage ninja clan that was part of G.I. Joe: Retaliation.

Snake Eyes is ascending the steps with his sword in tow, and it appears that someone is waiting at the top to greet him, although that could just be a statue and not an actual person. The other thing that’s notable about this photo is that it simply is a really cool looking image.

The composition, the black and white coloring, the mist; it all has an ethereal quality to it. Snake Eyes may be set in the present day, but here the character appears to be visiting a place that is out of time. It has a sort of reverence to it that evokes Beatrix Kiddo going to train under the cruel tutelage of Pai Mei.

The aesthetics of behind-the-scenes photos and promotional images don’t always match up to the look of the film itself, and while I certainly don’t expect Snake Eyes to be in black and white, it would be cool to see Snake Eyes not look just like every other action movie.

Alongside Henry Golding, Snake Eyes stars Andrew Koji as his nemesis Storm Shadow, while Úrsula Corberó steps into the role of The Baronness. Snake Eyes is directed by RED’s Robert Schwentke and is expected to hit theaters on October 23. Check out our 2020 Release Schedule to see what other movies you can look forward to this year.

We’ve met a lot of superheroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe over the last 12 years, but there are still plenty of others from Marvel Comics lore who have yet to surface. Some already have their debuts lined up, like The Eternals and Shang-Chi, while there hasn’t been a peep about others, like Namor the Sub-Mariner. Still, look around the internet long enough, and you’ll often see Crazy Rich Asians and Last Christmas star Henry Golding frequently fancasted or depicted in fan art as Namor.

On the official side of things though, Henry Golding is making it clear that he hasn’t been approached by anyone at Marvel about playing the character. When recently asked about if he’s had any Namor talks, Golding responded:

So there’s been no movement yet on seeing if Henry Golding could play Namor the Sub-Mariner, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen either. After all, he’ll be seen later this year as the eponymous lead of Snake Eyes, and if people respond positively to him in the G.I. Joe spinoff (or perhaps even ahead of the movie’s release), maybe Kevin Feige and the Marvel Studios brass will want to recruit him to play the half human/half-Atlantean powerhouse.

It helps that Henry Golding is already a big fan of Namor the Sub-Mariner, who was introduced in 1939 and has been dubbed Marvel’s “first mutant.” As the actor also mentioned to MTV News while plugging his latest movie, The Gentleman:

And who could this potential enemy be if Namor the Sub-Mariner makes his way into the MCU? Henry Golding speculated that Wakanda is the “greatest threat” to the character’s existence, and he certainly isn’t the only one who thinks that. With Black Panther II primed for a May 6, 2022 release, many fans have talked about how Namor could be the sequel’s villain. He and T’Challa have clashed numerous times in the comics, and Wakanda is the only country on Earth that has technology rivaling what Atlantis has at its disposal.

But again, officially speaking, there’s been no word about anything happening with Namor the Sub-Mariner, though you certainly won’t find any lack of fans wanting to see him join the MCU. Making matters even more complicated is that we still don’t know the situation with the character’s film rights.

Like The Hulk, Namor the Sub-Mariner once rested at Universal Pictures, and in the last several years, there’s been conflicting information if Marvel has the full rights back to him or if Universal still holds the distribution rights. It’s possible that as is still the case with The Hulk, Namor will not receive a standalone movie since that would mean requiring Disney to cut Universal in, but he can appear in movies led by other characters, such as Black Panther and the Fantastic Four, without any issue.

In any case, Namor is one of the most prominent Marvel characters who still hasn’t received any time on the big screen yet, and bringing him into the MCU would allow the franchise to open up the underwater corners of this franchise, like the DCEU has already done with Aquaman. And hey, if it does turn out that a Namor appearance is already being discussed behind closed doors, when the time comes to cast him, maybe Henry Golding will get a call to audition.

Keep checking back with CinemaBlend for any updates concerning Namor the Sub-Mariner’s potential MCU future, but for now, look through our Marvel movies guide to learn what this franchise does have coming up in the near future.

Actor Henry Golding has become a serious name in film over the past two years. He burst onto the scene in a big way with Crazy Rich Asians, playing the endlessly charming Nick as the movie became a pop culture sensation. Since then he's starred in two Paul Feig movies, A Simple Favor and Last Christmas. He's also a supporting character in Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen, which is nearly in theaters. And it turns out that he filmed his roles in both Last Christmas and The Gentlemen at the same time.

Henry Golding is mostly known for playing charming good guys, which is quite different from his character Dry Eye in The Gentlemen. The trailers show him as a foul-mouthed a violent criminal, but it turns out that he filmed his role as Tom in Last Christmas at the very same time. I had the chance to speak with the cast of The Gentlemen ahead of its release, where Golding told me about his hectic shooting schedule. Check out our conversation below.

Talk about two very different movies. The holiday-themed romantic comedy Last Christmas required Henry Golding to flex charming and affectionate acting muscles. Meanwhile, he's pretty loathsome in The Gentlemen. And that juxtaposition was a particularly unique experience for the 32 year-old actor as he filmed both projects at once.

Clearly Henry Golding's career is taking off right now. Since Crazy Rich Asians became a hit in 2018, he's gotten a handful of very exciting opportunities. And they just keep coming as Golding recently began production as the title character in the upcoming G.I. Joe movie Snake Eyes. While that foray into the action world will no doubt provide it sown set of challenges, it turns out that his work in Last Christmas and The Gentlemen was a masterclass in film acting for him.

As you can see from my conversation with Henry Golding above, the Crazy Rich Asians star actually really enjoyed filming both Last Christmas and The Gentlemen at the same time. Because while it may have been exhausting (even for his wife), it was a challenge to wake up every day possibly working on a different movie. Especially since the roles, and the films themselves, are so very different.

In Last Christmas, Henry Golding was a pretty typical leading man. His character Tom was shown falling in love with Emilia Clarke's protagonist, sweeping her off her feet with his kindness and hope. But those aren't concepts that are clearly foreign to his character in Guy Ritchie's newest crime drama The Gentlemen.

The Gentlemen follows a motley group of criminals, as they attempt to acquire Matthew McConaughey's massive marijuana empire in the UK. Chief among them is Henry Golding's Dry Eye, a murderous young buck who is hoping to make a bigger name for himself. He's cut throat and wild, dropping C-bombs alongside the rest of the cast.

The Gentlemen will arrive in theaters on January 24th. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

While the end of January can often be a slow time at the movies, director Guy Ritchie's next movie will soon arrive in theaters to kickstart the post-Holiday moviegoing season. I'm talking about The Gentlemen, the filmmaker's latest crime drama that is featuring a killer cast (pun intended). The movie follows Matthew McConaughey's Mickey Pearson, as he decides what to do with his marijuana selling empire in the U.K.. Plenty of characters want in on the action, and all types of backstabbing and murder ensues. The Gentlemen earns its R-rating due its violence and language, including the ample use of the C-word. And the cast had a hilarious reaction to using that particular word so often throughout the course of filming.

Since The Gentlemen is set across the pond, it has a unique relationship to the C-bomb. It's simply not as taboo of a word in the U.K., and as a result the word "cunt" is said and read consistently throughout the movie's runtime-- often to hilarious results. I had the chance to speak with the cast of The Gentlemen, when I asked the actors what their relationship was to the C-word during filming. They were charming and hilarious, so check out the comments from Hugh Grant, Matthew McConaughey, Henry Golding, Charlie Hunnam, and Michelle Dockery below.

Clearly this was a subject of conversation for the cast. While some of the Brits were phased by The Gentlemen's use of the C-word, it was definitely a shift in perspective for others. Especially considering that they'd be screaming that word with hate at each other throughout Guy Ritchie's newest blockbuster.

I asked both rooms of cast members about how The Gentlemen uses the C-word, got some unique perspectives on what it was like to curse for months straight while filming such a major blockbuster. Crazy Rich Asians actor Henry Golding has mostly been seen onscreen as charming nice guys, while his character Dry Eye is noticeably rougher around the edges. Golding actually found his character's speech pattern to be "therapeutic", as it was so different from the way Golding normally speaks. Michelle Dockery seemed to agree, which made the cursing in The Gentlemen a fun challenge of the movie.

But as Matthew McConaughey points out, The Gentlemen doesn't always use the c-word during conflicts. The movie also throws it away consistently as well. Because it's simply not that big of a deal in the U.K., Guy Ritchie includes said word in just about every scene.

Charlie Hunnam and Hugh Grant also answered the same question, with the latter actor joking that he used the C-word so much around his home that it's all his children are saying nowadays. Hunnam hammered down the fact that this movie starred proper English gentlemen, and as such the street slang had to be appropriate. Indeed, while the first "cunt" might be alarming, The Gentlemen holds nothing back regarding language, and it uses said curse consistently throughout its 113-minute runtime.

As the trailers have been teasing, The Gentlemen is an ultra-stylized movie by Guy Ritchie. The filmmaker is methodical about his approach, and that includes the film's dialogue, which he wrote. Curses and all.

The Gentlemen will arrive in theaters on January 24th. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

It has been several years since the G.I. Joe franchise had its own movie, and there were even several changes made from the original film to its sequel, 2013’s G.I. Joe: Retaliation (which leaned on The Rock and Bruce Willis as its leads). Now a third movie is coming to theaters from Paramount that will take the Joe series in yet a different direction, as the studio will dive into the origin of its silent assassin, Snake Eyes.

The cast and crew of G.I. Joe: Snake Eyes held an event in Japan this week to announce the start of production on the 2020 action thriller (which also might boast the name Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins). In the process, they also revealed a cool new logo for the film, which can be seen alongside Last Christmas and A Simple Favor star Henry Golding as he posed for a picture at the event.

German filmmaker Robert Schwentke will take the helm of Snake Eyes, and brings a background in action and franchise work. His most popular blend of action and comedy has to be Red, which also teamed Bruce Willis with Helen Mirren Morgan Freeman and John Malkovich. After that, Schwentke honed his craft on The Divergent Series, but will try to reintroduce Snake Eyes to a new generation of moviegoers.

Snake Eyes arguably has been the coolest character of the existing G.I. Joe cinematic franchise. He speaks no words, but has no problem swinging through memorable action set pieces such as this deadly confrontation on the side of an icy mountain.

Basically, what we are saying is that Robert Schwentke and Henry Golding have their work cut out for them (get it?) if they want to keep Snake Eyes fans engaged in this new film. The character has been a standout ever since G.I. Joe told stories in comic books and in animated television programs. We’re curious to see what Paramount has in store for the largely silent killer.

Snake Eyes co-stars the legendary action hero Iko Uwais (reason enough for us to get excited), as well as Andrew Koji, Haruka Abe and Takehiro Hira. Paramount has the film down for an October 23, 2020 release, which is why production has shifted from Vancouver to Japan for continued shoots. We’ll bring you more on Snake Eyes as it develops.

James Bond rumors have been absolutely rampant for years now. Given we’ve known Daniel Craig will be wrapping up his run after next year’s No Time To Die, there's been a lot of open space and time for speculation. One of the names that has been more recently bandied about has been Henry Golding, the star of last year’s Crazy Rich Asians and this year’s Last Christmas. Now he’s spoken out about how he feels about the possibility of playing James Bond.

During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to promote Last Christmas, the late night host happened to mention the actor has made the Vegas leaderboard in regards to the odds he could become James Bond. Of course, this is simply based on fan betting at this point, but it does drive home the possibility. How does Henry Golding feel about the prospect? He said:

Of course, at this point it would be foolish for Henry Golding to extrapolate out the possibility too far. That would be setting yourself up for disappointment, and if you know anything about Golding’s background you should know he’s the type of person who has smoothly transitioned from career opportunity to career opportunity by rolling with the punches and saying yes to brand new experiences when they have come his way.

In fact, in the same interview, Henry Golding spoke out about the jobs he had prior to becoming a famous name in Hollywood, which included working red carpet gigs such as those for the Harry Potter franchise movies. He also was a TV host and even a hairdresser, noting that each time he's transitioned it's been because he strayed from the straight lane laid out before him.

Ultimately, we'll have to wait and see if Henry Golding remains in the conversation once Barbara Broccoli and co. start taking a good, hard look at what's coming next for the franchise (although they may have already), but having a Bond joke in Last Christmas likely will keep this particular conversation going a little longer. Plus, at the very least, Henry Golding is in good company in this particular Vegas-oriented rumor mill. Some other names being bandied about for the gig include the ever-popular Idris Elba, Richard Madden, Tom Hiddleston, Michael Fassbender and Cillian Murphy, according to recent betting odds. Those names join plenty of others that have been rumored over the last few years.

Related: Actors Who Have Been Rumored To Take Over For Daniel Craig As James Bond

In the meantime, it's worth pointing out that James Bond's 25th feature No Time To Die has wrapped production and will be coming out on April 8 2020. We know a little bit about what that will entail, including a Jamaica setting at the beginning of the movie and a new 007. Check out more with our full guide.

There’s a lot that’s been written about Last Christmas over the weekend, given its twist ending. However, what caught my eye while watching the movie was not its wild twist, but a joke that is both amusing and did the small service of helping to keep Henry Golding’s name in the ring for James Bond.

Here’s the scene. Yes, I’m about to get into minor Last Christmas spoilers, but if you’ve seen the trailer you’ve seen most of this anyway, so it won’t be that bad. I promise. In the scene we have seen in the trailer when Golding’s character Tom and Emilia Clarke’s character Kate sneak into the ice skating rink so that she can practice for a Frozen on Ice audition, Henry Golding briefly pauses by the door to the skating rink.

He puts his hands together to make a pretend gun and does a goofy James Bond impression. This causes Emilia Clarke's character to poke fun at him, asking him if he’s really trying to be James Bond as they sneak into the rink. It’s an endearing joke, but also a timely one, given the movie was filmed just a short while after Crazy Rich Asians hit theaters and Henry Golding’s name slowly started popping up in the James Bond rumor mill.

Yes, if you’ve been keeping tabs on the James Bond debate, Henry Golding has been a name that has been touted quite a bit. I’m not sure when it started, exactly, but it may have started when people on Twitter latched onto the idea after Crazy Rich Asians. Then, around the time that Golding was spotted in the trailer for The Gentlemen, Guy Ritchie’s new 2020 movie with drugs and plenty of scheming. Either way, his name is out there at this point.

In fact, during a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the late night host pulled out a list of Vegas odds related to James Bond. There were some familiar names on there, people like Richard Madden, Tom Hiddleston and Idris Elba, to name a few.

Related: 15 Actors Who Have Been Rumored To Take Over For Daniel Craig As James Bond

Obviously the list of rumored actors is quite long and there has been no confirmation any of these people will actually get the gig. Yet, right now Henry Golding has decent odds running in Vegas as well, and at the time the aforementioned late night episode aired, the Last Christmas actor was at 10:1 odds. This particular list also included Idris Elba, Michael Fassbender, Cillian Murphy, Richard Madden and Tom Hiddleston. Sure, his odds weren’t as strong as some of the other candidates, but it’s likely an honor to even be a part of the conversation.

Henry Golding previously told MTV the James Bond moment in the movie “snuck it’s way in,” also joking it was his audition for James Bond. He said:

So, you’re saying there’s a chance?

Regardless, James Bond is still going to be played by Daniel Craig for a short while longer (and has a new look for the next movie, to boot). The actor will be leaving the franchise after Bond 25, now called No Time To Die, but that movie won't hit theaters until April of next year. At some point, Barbara Broccoli and co. will have to make a decision regarding a new direction. However, that time has not come yet. For now, you'll just have to content yourself by hearing actors like Idris Elba and former James Bond players like Pierce Brosnan share their thoughts on who should ultimately nab the role. Oh, and see Henry Golding playing pretend in Last Christmas, out in theaters now.

Henry Golding is certainly becoming an “it” guy in Hollywood, having appeared in a couple of notable features recently, including Crazy Rich Asians and A Simple Favor. Yet acting is only the latest in a long line of jobs he’s held over the years. In fact, he recently revealed he was once a red carpet reporter covering projects like the Harry Potter films starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.

During a recent episode of The Late Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Fallon and Henry Golding got to talking about the myriad jobs he had before becoming an actor. One of them involved interviewing celebrities on the red carpet, and he told a fun story about how he felt interviewing a "young" Daniel Radcliffe before he himself was famous.

Elaborating on what he used to do before he became an actor, he talked a little bit about talking his way from being a hairdresser into being a presenter, as well as touching base about how he himself used to be on the other side of the carpet, including interviewing the cast of big franchises such as Harry Potter.  He said:

I always sort of love hearing about what celebrities did back before they were idolized by people around the world. The more mundane the previous job, the more interesting it usually is to me. A lot of times celebrities are put onto a sort of pedestal by the public, but stories like these go a long way to humanize people we also love seeing playing characters on the big screen. In the past, Henry Golding has talked about struggling with getting famous after so much time as an anonymous human, and this story ties right in.

If you’d like to take a look at the full interview, you can do so below. Spoiler alert: he also talks about James Bond.

Next up, you can catch Henry Golding in Last Christmas, the Paul Feig movie also starring Emilia Clarke. The new movie is out in theaters this weekend, along with a slew of other titles (including Doctor Sleep). You can see how the competition might fare with our full movies schedule.

There are surely countless actors out there that are having trouble getting cast in movies, but Henry Golding isn’t one of them. The Crazy Rich Asians star jumps back into the romantic comedy genre this weekend opposite the Mother of Dragons herself Emilia Clarke for Last Christmas. But for director Paul Feig, casting Henry Golding in Last Christmas wasn’t a simple thing. In an exclusive interview with CinemaBlend’s own Corey Chichizola, Paul Feig explained how casting Henry Golding required him to be tricky, saying:

Although Henry Golding’s star in Hollywood is currently ascending at an exponential rate, when Paul Feig wanted to cast him in Last Christmas that wasn’t yet the case. The way the timing worked, Paul Feig first read the part in the story by Emma Thompson and Greg Wise, before Crazy Rich Asians came out and before it had become a massive success.

Crazy Rich Asians was Henry Golding’s first feature film, so Paul Feig basically wanted to cast an unknown and unproven quantity as one of the leads in his movie opposite an actress who starred in the world’s biggest TV show. Paul Feig knew that would be a nonstarter, so as he told Corey, he cleverly did a dance with the studio to put off casting the role of Tom in Last Christmas.

Paul Feig had faith and knew that while Henry Golding was relatively unknown, his rocketship was already on the launch pad, just waiting to take off. He just needed to delay things long enough for the ignition provided by Crazy Rich Asians. His gambit paid off as Crazy Rich Asians became a huge success story, thereby allowing Paul Feig to cast the actor he wanted in Last Christmas.

And Paul Feig really wanted Henry Golding for his Christmas rom-com. The director had already worked with Golding on the delightfully pulpy A Simple Favor, which arrived in theaters a month after Crazy Rich Asians. Paul Feig came to know what kind of person Henry Golding is during that experience and he immediately drew parallels between him and the character Tom in Last Christmas.

So he knew that a genuinely nice and happy person like Henry Golding would be a perfect fit for Tom, he just had to get creative to make it happen. It’s an incredibly savvy move on the part of Paul Feig. He knows how the industry works and how to work it. After Crazy Rich Asians, the studio was probably thrilled to cast Henry Golding in Last Christmas.

From now on the biggest trick to casting Henry Golding will probably be his own availability. Next year the actor will have a role in Guy Ritchie’s absurdly star-studded return to his crime roots The Gentlemen, and he will also lead the relaunch of the G.I. Joe franchise as the titular ninja in Snake Eyes.

Last Christmas opens in theaters on November 8. Check out our 2020 Release Schedule to see when all of next year’s anticipated movies hit theaters.

As the Holiday Season approaches, so do plenty of appropriately themed movies, and while plenty of new Christmas flicks are available on the small screen courtesy of Hallmark, there's also a movie hitting the big screen. Paul Feig's Last Christmas is this year's yuletide adventure at the movies, containing plenty of familiar faces. And while it's staying away from December because of stiff competition from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the holiday rom-com will bring a decidedly lighter feeling to theaters in November instead. At least, mostly.

The film stars Emilia Clarke in one of her first big post-Game of Thrones roles. Clarke plays a young woman named Kate, who spends her days miserably working at a Christmas-themed shop in London. While she's dressed up as a holiday elf, she fails to bring Christmas cheer to those around her, including her boss Santa (Michelle Yeoh). Kate drinks to excess, has no ambition, and doesn't have the money for a permanent home or the ability to support herself. But all of that changes when someone new comes into her life, and inspires her to rethink how she's been living in the wake of an intense medical battle.

Kate is set up as a bona fide basket case, although she's also quite charming thanks to Emilia Clarke's signature likability. While she's forced to move home with her parents, she meets the thoroughly magical Tom, played by Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding. Sparks fly between the two, and Henry eventually helps inspire Kate to appreciate her life.

This isn't Paul Feig's first Christmas movie, as he also put out the family-friendly comedy Unaccompanied Minors back in 2006, which failed to perform both critically and at the box office. While the fiscal earnings of Last Christmas remain to be seen, the movie doesn't look like it'll break the director's bad history with the subgenre.

Paul Feig is a director with a strong point of view, and you can usually see his perspective in the dialogue, costuming, and tone of his movies. But Last Christmas fails to have that same signature bite that works so well in projects like The Heat. The Christmas movie lacks a real touch, seemingly content with the feel good message of the movie, and its strong actors. While Feig's recent dark comedy A Simple Favor put a comedic spin on a Gone Girl -esque story, Last Christmas fails to bring something unique to the rom-com genre... or Christmas movies as a whole.

Last Christmas was written by the great Emma Thompson, who co-wrote the screenplay with Bryony Kimmings. Thompson also has a role as Adelia, Kate's refugee mother. Adelia's scenes are some of the movie's strongest, as the Christmas movie takes a political spin to address Brexit and immigration. Unfortunately, those strong scenes aren't necessarily strong enough to buoy the otherwise by-the-numbers romantic comedy.

One major high point is Last Christmas' soundtrack, which is made entirely of George Michael songs. While the title obviously hints at his classic Christmas flick (which was the initial inspiration for the feature) non-holiday tracks from his discography help the backdrop of the movie overall. Kate is a massive George Michael fan, so her story utilizes his myriad hit songs.

Last Christmas ends on a big plot twist, which I won't spoil here. While it's not one you necessarily see coming, it still fails to really make a big emotional impact on the story. And because it's not super successful, the ending has the potential to inspire a few eye rolls. But that isn't to place blame on the film's stars. Overall, Last Christmas stumbles because it lacks a unique perspective. Instead, we simply follow a love story, which fails to really inspire any Christmas feels.