HONG KONG – Stereoscopic trailers and sneak peeks of tentpole sequels dominated the first half of CineAsia’s second-day proceedings on Dec. 12, with Paramount launching its revamped G.I. Joe sequel in the presence of director Jon Chu and star Lee Byung-hyun, and Universal unveiling a part of Despicable Me 2.
While the teaser of the original 2D G.I. Joe: Retaliation, originally slated for a June 2012 release, concentrated more on the story of its protagonists being excommunicated by the US government, the new trailer of the converted 3D version (which debuts in the U.S. on March 29, 2013) plays up its staggering visuals and action scenes.
Chu, who appeared on stage with Lee at the presentation at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, described the making of Retaliation as “really insane." Pointing to his actor – whose role of Storm Shadow was “expanded” in the sequel, according to Paramount Pictures International president Mark Viane – Chu said: “His abs in 3D look amazing."
“When I first heard Asia was the biggest-selling region for G.I. Joe I was shocked,” said Lee, who returns to the franchise’s new installment, alongside new additions Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis. Lee will receive CineAsia’s Star of the Year award at the convention’s concluding ceremony Dec. 13.
Paramount also preceded the screening of the new trailer of Marc Forster’s World War Z, and is received warmly by trade representatives in attendance. The film, to be released on June 28, 2013, stars Brad Pitt.
Meanwhile, enthusiasm was evident as Universal introduced a sequence of Despicable Me 2, the follow-up to the Steve Carell-voiced animation about the villainous Dr Gru converted to goodness (and suburban life) with the adoption of three girls.