Description: G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra is a 2009 American live-action film adaptation of the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toy franchise. The film is directed by Stephen Sommers, produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura and co-written by Stuart Beattie, based on a 1998 screenplay by John Paul Kay. G.I. Joe features an ensemble cast based on the various characters of the franchise. The story follows two American soldiers, Duke and Ripcord, who join the G.I. Joe Team after being attacked by Cobra troops. Filming took place in Downey, California and Prague's Barrandov Studios. The film was released on August 5, 2009, in France and Belgium,[3] August 6 in United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong, and August 7 in the United States and other English-speaking countries. The Rise of Cobra had mixed critical reviews, but opened at the top of the box office.