Cast Of Snake Eyes Gi Joe Origins • Free Forever
Golding plays a younger, more volatile Snake Eyes—a drifter haunted by his father’s murder. Unlike the stoic icon, this Snake Eyes is talkative, angry, and morally ambiguous. He makes a deal with the villainous Baroness, betraying the Arashikage clan for a chance to avenge his father. Golding successfully portrays the internal conflict: the selfish need for revenge versus the burgeoning sense of honor taught by his mentor, Tommy (Storm Shadow). While some purists disliked a talkative Snake Eyes, Golding’s performance anchors the film’s central redemption arc, making the eventual vow of silence (a choice born from shame and devotion) feel earned. The Noble Rival: Andrew Koji as Tommy / Storm Shadow The yin to Snake Eyes’ yang is his brother-in-arms turned nemesis, Storm Shadow. This role has a rich history, previously played by Byung-hun Lee in the earlier films. For Origins , the part went to Andrew Koji, the breakout star of the action series Warrior . Koji brought not only incredible physical prowess but also a deep sense of tragic nobility to the character.
Released in 2021, Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins sought to reboot the long-running G.I. Joe franchise by stepping away from the ensemble military spectacle of its predecessors ( The Rise of Cobra and Retaliation ) and focusing on a singular, gritty origin story. Directed by Robert Schwentke, the film trades the high-octane, gadget-heavy battles for a world of ancient Japanese clans, ninja honor codes, and raw, visceral revenge. At the heart of its success—or failure, depending on the critic—lies its diverse and ambitious cast. Assembling a blend of rising stars, martial arts icons, and established character actors, the cast of Snake Eyes was tasked with grounding a fantastical world while breathing new life into iconic Hasbro characters. cast of snake eyes gi joe origins
In Origins , Scarlett is a mysterious figure who appears midway through the film, tracking Cobra’s movements. She is not yet part of an official G.I. Joe team (the organization is only hinted at as a classified global initiative). Weaving’s Scarlett is witty, acerbic, and deadly. She doesn’t have a massive amount of screen time, but she makes an impression. Her fight choreography, particularly using her signature wrist-mounted crossbow and a staff, is fluid and fast. Weaving balances the character’s intelligence with a physical ferocity. Her scenes with Golding have a playful antagonism that sets up a future dynamic. While some fans longed for a more traditional, uniformed Scarlett, Weaving’s interpretation successfully plants the flag for the G.I. Joe team’s presence in this new world. Every good ninja story needs a rival within the clan. That role is filled by Kenta, played by Japanese actor Takehiro Hira (known for Giri/Haji ). Kenta is a former Arashikage member who was banished for his brutality and now leads a splinter faction, secretly allied with Cobra. Golding plays a younger, more volatile Snake Eyes—a
Hard Master is the embodiment of the clan’s philosophy: disciplined, wise, and lethally efficient. Uwais, despite having limited dialogue, commands every scene with his presence. His single major action sequence—a sword fight against Snake Eyes during a training test—is a masterclass in choreography, speed, and impact. Uwais brings a legitimacy to the clan’s fighting style, grounding the film’s more fantastical elements (like the "Sunstone" and "Jewel of the Sun") in brutal, believable combat. His performance is stoic yet warm, serving as the moral compass that both Snake Eyes and Tommy ultimately fail to live up to. The Baroness (Ana DeCobray) is one of G.I. Joe ’s most iconic villains—a sleek, intelligent, and ruthless spy. Previously played by Sienna Miller, the role was taken on by Úrsula Corberó, best known for her iconic role as Tokyo in the Spanish heist series La Casa de Papel (Money Heist). This role has a rich history, previously played
Corberó’s Baroness is less of a mustache-twirling villain and more of a pragmatic operative of Cobra. She approaches Snake Eyes with an offer: retrieve the clan’s mystical "Jewel of the Sun" in exchange for the location of his father’s killer. Corberó brings a cool, European sophistication and a coiled menace to the role. Her fight scenes are elegant and precise, and she handles the character’s signature weapon—a high-tech crossbow—with flair. While the script gives her limited depth, Corberó’s charisma ensures the Baroness remains a compelling threat, setting her up as a major antagonist for potential sequels. One of the film’s original characters (not directly from the G.I. Joe canon) is Akiko, played by Haruka Abe. Akiko is the loyal head of the Arashikage security, a master of surveillance and a fierce warrior dedicated to protecting the clan’s secrets.
Ultimately, the cast elevates a flawed script. Golding proves his action lead credentials, Koji delivers a tragic masterpiece of a performance, and Uwais reminds everyone what real screen fighting looks like. While the film’s box office and reception were mixed, leading to an uncertain future for the franchise, the talent and commitment of this ensemble cannot be denied. They took a beloved property and tried to give it a soul, even if the final product struggled to balance the shadow of the ninja and the light of the soldier.
Abe’s character serves a crucial narrative function: she is the skeptic. While Tommy blindly trusts Snake Eyes, Akiko sees his deception from the start. She represents the clan’s conscience and its watchful eye. Abe, a Japanese-British actress, brings a steely resolve and quiet intensity to the role. Her character is not a love interest but a formidable equal to the male warriors. In the film’s climax, Akiko fights alongside Snake Eyes and Tommy, proving her mettle in combat. She is the unsung hero of the clan, and Abe’s performance makes you wish the character had even more screen time. A major point of discussion among fans was the casting of Samara Weaving as Shana "Scarlett" O’Hara. A red-haired G.I. Joe intelligence operative and master martial artist, Scarlett is a fan-favorite. Weaving, known for her comedic and horror roles ( Ready or Not , The Babysitter ), brought an unexpected energy to the part.