Snake Eyes' newest trailer reveals a closer look at the upcoming origin story for the G.I. Joe swordsman, including showcasing his classic suit and how the Cobra organization will be established in this rebooted universe. More important than that, though, is the glimpses it provides at Snake Eyes' life before becoming a member of the Arashikage clan.
G.I. Joe heroes and villains Scarlett and Baroness show up in the trailer, and it's when the latter is seen that fans get a look at why the titular ninja is named Snake Eyes. Here's how the origin of G.I. Joe's biggest character is different from usual and why it's now much of a roll of the dice.
Snake Eyes' Origin in the Trailer
The trailer shows early footage of Snake Eyes' life before joining the Arashikage clan, with him making his bones as an underground fighter. Eventually, he and his friend join the ninja clan, which is tasked with secretly keeping the peace throughout the world. Unfortunately, one of their main enemies is the rising threat of Cobra, a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world.
One of Cobra's emissaries is the franchise's iconic femme fatale, the Baroness. She already knows quite a bit about Snake Eyes before even meeting him, including his nickname. Right after she playfully states the name in the trailer, a two-dotted dice is shown in someone's hands. This moment suggests Snake Eyes derives his moniker from dice, which might tie into his past as a fighter. And while this rather mundane explanation makes sense, it differs from the classic origin of the codename.
Snake Eyes' Origin in Other Continuities
In most continuities, Snake Eyes' codename has no origin, which is confusing because it makes him seem like a villain due to G.I. Joe's main antagonist being Cobra. In the original Marvel Comics from Larry Hama, it was related to a roll of the dice and derived from the last words that his father said to him. The cartoon G.I. Joe: Renegades once again explained the somewhat perplexing title, and it had nothing to do with gambling. The Arashikage clan teacher Hard Master bequeathed the ninja with the name "Hebi no me," which is Japanese for Snake Eyes, due to his possessing the "steely gaze of a serpent."
This is the closest explanation before the upcoming movie for the name, which is still somewhat perplexing. After all, many members of G.I. Joe have code names that reflect their rank or role on the team, such as the mine-sweeping Tunnel Rat or the firefighter Barbecue. There still may be more to the name in Snake Eyes than a mere pair of dice, but fans will have to wait until the ninja slashes his way into theaters to find out.
Directed by Robert Schwentke, Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins stars Henry Golding as Snake Eyes, Andre Koji as Storm Shadow, Iko Uwais as Hard Master, Úrsula Corberó as Baroness, Samara Weaving as Scarlett, Haruka Abe as Akiko and Takehiro Hira as Kenta. The film arrives in theaters July 23.