Age range of the characters

[Rogles]

I've noticed some disagreements in some the casting threads regarding some of the actors ages not fitting with the character (too old, too young). I was wondering how old the G.I. Joes should be portrayed in the movie.

Personally, I always saw them as ranging from the late twenties to early forties so that's kinda what I'd like to see them portrayed as in the movies.

[swafus]

I'd say late 20's for some characters and up to mid 40's for others. I can say that if they try to make all the characters 25 and "kewl" that they will absolutely ruin this franchise!

[OUTBACK]

i woulda said 30 - 40, but i think there are few "28- 29" year olds in that mix.

therefore... 25 - 35

[Lt. Faceless]

i woulda said 30 - 40, but i think there are few "28- 29" year olds in that mix.

therefore... 25 - 35

I agree. The only ones that should go above 35-40 are the generals(Hawk,Flagg,Colton)

[tile_mcgillus]

If anyone says teens, Im'a stab'em in the eye!

(joke)

Seriously though. 30-40. I don't want any freaking kids running around playing war looking ridiculous.

[Gung.Heaux]

hawk:50 duke:39 scarlett:35 snake:36 rocknroll:45
flint: 37 lady jaye:37 gung ho:41 stormshadow:34
roadblock:36 zartan:38 'noks:Bzr36 Trch40 Rppr38
firefly:37 baroness:37 destro:43 bludd:46 stalker:46
beachhead:36 serpentor:"in appearance"32 shipwreck:36 scrap iron:41 recondo:38 doc:40
breaker:34 clutch:33 wild bill:46 torpedo:31
snowjob:40 cobra commander:47

i know some of these arent/probably not/maybe will be in the movie, but im harkening back to favs and figs on my shelf. as you guys see, i support a slightly older concept than most of you probably will...but i REALLY dont want to see this becoming "DESTRO's CREEK" or "The Joe C". i figure most of these characters are where they are because of experience.

oh, one more GUNG.HEAUX: 34 but hes told he looks 27....haha.

[Cobra Commander]

hawk:50 duke:39 scarlett:35 snake:36 rocknroll:45
flint: 37 lady jaye:37 gung ho:41 stormshadow:34
roadblock:36 zartan:38 'noks:Bzr36 Trch40 Rppr38
firefly:37 baroness:37 destro:43 bludd:46 stalker:46
beachhead:36 serpentor:"in appearance"32 shipwreck:36 scrap iron:41 recondo:38 doc:40
breaker:34 clutch:33 wild bill:46 torpedo:31
snowjob:40 cobra commander:47


I agree with these ages.

[Compulsive Collector]

Seriously though. 30-40. I don't want any freaking kids running around playing war looking ridiculous. Uh, just whom do you imagine is fighting our current war?

25-40 is a good age range. They obviously shouldn't all be in their twenties, but if everyone in this unit is damn near middle-aged, it's going to look silly and perform poorly at the box office.

hawk:50 duke:39 scarlett:35 snake:36 rocknroll:45
flint: 37 lady jaye:37 gung ho:41 stormshadow:34
roadblock:36 zartan:38 'noks:Bzr36 Trch40 Rppr38
firefly:37 baroness:37 destro:43 bludd:46 stalker:46
beachhead:36 serpentor:"in appearance"32 shipwreck:36 scrap iron:41 recondo:38 doc:40
breaker:34 clutch:33 wild bill:46 torpedo:31
snowjob:40 cobra commander:47

i know some of these arent/probably not/maybe will be in the movie, but im harkening back to favs and figs on my shelf. as you guys see, i support a slightly older concept than most of you probably will...but i REALLY dont want to see this becoming "DESTRO's CREEK" or "The Joe C". i figure most of these characters are where they are because of experience.

oh, one more GUNG.HEAUX: 34 but hes told he looks 27....haha. That seems way too old for the Dreadnoks, and as for experience, I know guys younger than every age in your list who are former Army Rangers, USMC Intel, and Special Forces. A guy in my family went from being a SEAL to working for a private security firm at 33. A guy who enlists at 18 has seven years of experience at 25.

It's not going to be a teenage drama just because some of the cast members are younger than you.

[SnakeEyes]

I agree with compulsive...I've been in the military for 10 yrs., I'm an E-6 (for 2), and I'm 30. I enlisted @ the ripe ol' age of 20.

Realistically speaking, MOST military personnel retire within 20-25 years of service (notice I said MOST)! So, let's say troup "A" enlisted @ 18, and stayed for 25 years, that would make him 43yrs. old! That my friends is desk jockey age in the military!

You also have to remember, the special forces i.e. SEALS, Combat Control, Airborne, etc. mostly hand pick candidates straight out of basic trng. Sure, you can volunteer to try out, and some make it in that way. But, my point is, you could be going through survival school as early as 20-21, and actually be special ops by 23!

That being said, by 25yrs old, you're pretty dang mature, trust me!!!!!!!! My parents didn't even recognize me when I came home for the first time (I was 23 and had been gone for 3 years)! That's no lie!

[Gung.Heaux]

Uh, just whom do you imagine is fighting our current war?

25-40 is a good age range. They obviously shouldn't all be in their twenties, but if everyone in this unit is damn near middle-aged, it's going to look silly and perform poorly at the box office.

That seems way too old for the Dreadnoks, and as for experience, I know guys younger than every age in your list who are former Army Rangers, USMC Intel, and Special Forces. A guy in my family went from being a SEAL to working for a private security firm at 33. A guy who enlists at 18 has seven years of experience at 25.

It's not going to be a teenage drama just because some of the cast members are younger than you.

first off, lets not forget...the original question posed is seeking opinion based answers--how each of us would like to see the team and cobra -- and thats what i personally would like to see.

maybe i shouldve mentioned in my original post ---alot of these ages i came up with are based on the file card artwork more than anything. also what i remember of their character from the cartoon. (remember torpedo sounding and acting marginally younger than gung ho) also, ive always imagined the joe team to be a team recruited from the best and often highly seasoned soldiers.

my choices DO NOT reflect stark, military reality or even box office logistics...just personal preference and OPINION.

however...

i do realize that our military is comprised of many young men and women -- many younger than i. i have nothing but the utmost respect for every last one of them, past and present, and even future warriors. they all do something i feel i certainly am not cut out for.

and as far as the dreadnoks...im basing that on artwork as well as older grungy biker types.

[Monkeywrench]

I went with the 25-35

[stewbacca]

hawk:50 duke:39 scarlett:35 snake:36 rocknroll:45
flint: 37 lady jaye:37 gung ho:41 stormshadow:34
roadblock:36 zartan:38 'noks:Bzr36 Trch40 Rppr38
firefly:37 baroness:37 destro:43 bludd:46 stalker:46
beachhead:36 serpentor:"in appearance"32 shipwreck:36 scrap iron:41 recondo:38 doc:40
breaker:34 clutch:33 wild bill:46 torpedo:31
snowjob:40 cobra commander:47

oh, one more GUNG.HEAUX: 34 but hes told he looks 27....haha.

If you take all these ages and subtract 5-- and thats where Ive pictured these guys all being--- although since Snake Eyes fighting in Vietnam kind of makes him the ageless wonder like wolverine.

[tile_mcgillus]

Uh, just whom do you imagine is fighting our current war?

A guy who enlists at 18 has seven years of experience at 25.

It's not going to be a teenage drama just because some of the cast members are younger than you.

WOW! I did not want to get political. We are talking fantasy. These characters are supposed to be the best of the best, of the best. The older more experienced truly elite guys. The James Bondesque type characters. That's my two cents.

And I was referring to the young 20 year old girls in movies that end up with guns that seem freaking absurd. Maybe thats not age but inexperience, bad acting and bad directing...

And I am 25. :)

[Compulsive Collector]

although since Snake Eyes fighting in Vietnam kind of makes him the ageless wonder like wolverine. I think that would likely be updated to a more recent conflict.

WOW! I did not want to get political. We are talking fantasy. These characters are supposed to be the best of the best, of the best. The older more experienced truly elite guys. The James Bondesque type characters. That's my two cents. Sorry, wasn't trying to be political, either. I was just making the point that most of the "elite" are generally in their twenties and thirties, and that they've had plenty of experience by the time they reach those ages.

[space jeff]

I think that would likely be updated to a more recent conflict.

Sorry, wasn't trying to be political, either. I was just making the point that most of the "elite" are generally in their twenties and thirties, and that they've had plenty of experience by the time they reach those ages.

I have a different look at this. Ubisoft did a ton of research on this kind of thing when making the Splinter Cell games, and in develpoing the lead character, Sam Fisher. They chose to go with an older, more mature, more patient and more experienced former SEAL and currnet CIA operative in his 40's because it makes sense that a guy like that has seen LOADS of combat and can react to any and all situations. late 20's to 50's is where this movie needs to sit.

[Compulsive Collector]

This is worth infinitely more to me than any "research" conducted by a software company.

I've been in the military for 10 yrs., I'm an E-6 (for 2), and I'm 30. I enlisted @ the ripe ol' age of 20.

Realistically speaking, MOST military personnel retire within 20-25 years of service (notice I said MOST)! So, let's say troup "A" enlisted @ 18, and stayed for 25 years, that would make him 43yrs. old! That my friends is desk jockey age in the military!

[quintonarledge]

For the movie, I hope all the actors are over 30 so this doesn't become Joe-Smallville.

In my own Joe universe, most of the E-4's, E-5's, E-6's and 0-1's/0-2's are around 24-29. I know their are some real-life Spec. Ops guys in their early 20s, but the Joes are "the best of the best" and are made up of guys that probably had a little more seasoning than other Special Operators.

Duke, Snake-Eyes, Stalker, etc. are in their early to mid 30s. And all the Chief Warrants like Wild Bill or higher up Officers like Keel Haul or Hawk are well up into their 40s or early 50s.

oh, yeah, Mainframe is still alive in my Joe-verse and is in his late 30s in keeping with his filecard/comics description

[Loose Cannon]

I guess I'm with the majority on this one too. 25-35. However I feel as though maybe I see most of the main characters at like 35-43 range. A lot of the characters who haven't achieved an E-6 rank should be young, But most of the core characters have always seemed to me to be older/seasoned. Like Professional soldiers before there was paperwork (Romans) and retirement age was 50 or if you died. Plus how else can you cast Samual L. Jackson Shwartzneggar, and Stallone?

[DarthBrett]

I chose 25-35, although 20-40 is a better spectrum of possibilities regarding age. I think Duke's old filecard from 1984 stated that he was in Vietnam as a recruit in '67. This would make the old original Joes around the ages of maybe 25-35 back in the '80's. So most of the characters in the movie would be more than likely veterans of the Gulf war and then of course you could have a few youngsters that joined in 2002 or 2004 when we went to Afghanistan and back into Irag again. Most of the Joes as we knew them from the original ARAH line would be well into their mid to late 50's if they kept the same timeline and left the backstories intact (but this won't happen). I don't think Snake-Eyes or any of the others can be Vietnam vets (unless they are old men in the new movie), it's just not plausible or realistic unless they are an old general or something. Honestly, they need to make the characters by today's standards. Of course, the movie could take place 20 years ago (but that's highly unlikely and honestly, I hope it is an updated telling of our heroic Joes anyways).

BTW, Mainframe was 17 in 1975, which would make him 49 today.
Duke enlisted in 1967, which would make him around the ripe old age of about 58 today.

The Joes in the new movie will be guys who were born during the Vietnam war, not fighting in it.

[General Scarlett]

I think you guys are really reading too deeply into this......

Take into consideration-depending on 'who' the character is and 'what' role they have played in the franchise, that's going to determine the age group that they want to play to........

[xhairs]

i woulda said 30 - 40, but i think there are few "28- 29" year olds in that mix.

therefore... 25 - 35

im with u on this my man.

[Caliburn]

If we expect to see three movies within six to seven years; 25-30 is a great starting point.

[Snake Eyes-Joe Ninja]

I would say it'd depend on the character.

[gijoevscobra4ever]

Destro's Creek....

LOL!!!

[Loose Cannon]

Destro's Creek....

LOL!!!


OMG that's hilarious. I hope it's not like the Cartoon where Baroness won't help cobra commander unless he dumps his girlfriend (Zarana).

[MAJOR WOLF]

I say 25 to 45 years old.

[VIPER 48]

I voted for 25 to 35....

[crazyfellow1]

If anyone says teens, Im'a stab'em in the eye!

(joke)

Seriously though. 30-40. I don't want any freaking kids running around playing war looking ridiculous.

I 100% agree with you, even though I am a kid (I guess).

[Pimp Daddy Darklon]

I would go for 30-40 for those aces in their field (like Agent47 should be). The support members can be 25-30. Mainframe if ever can be young as younger people are better in computer stuff.

[Cobra-Viper]

Well they did say it in an interview it was a Joe Begins type film so of course they'd be relatively young around 25 to 30, but does it really matter what age they are?

[delta]

more so 35-40

[Lifeline_MD]

Mid 20s for guys like Sneek peak, Crosshairs, and Outback through mid 30s for Stalker, Duke, Snake-eyes and Scarlet, to late 30s for Shckwave and Lift ticket and early forties for guys like Hawk and Beachhead.

[TSHawkeye]

I think for an elite unit it would be 20s with a few senior officers in their 40s(Hawk ect). Im not in the military but dont you "rank up"(so to speak) quickly in a unit like this? Anyone that becomes a Joe, I think, would be ranked out and replaced before their 30s.

[Bravestarr]

hawk:50 duke:39 scarlett:35 snake:36 rocknroll:45
flint: 37 lady jaye:37 gung ho:41 stormshadow:34
roadblock:36 zartan:38 'noks:Bzr36 Trch40 Rppr38
firefly:37 baroness:37 destro:43 bludd:46 stalker:46
beachhead:36 serpentor:"in appearance"32 shipwreck:36 scrap iron:41 recondo:38 doc:40
breaker:34 clutch:33 wild bill:46 torpedo:31
snowjob:40 cobra commander:47



I agree with your assessment because the military's most seasoned NCOs are in their 30s and 40s. This is very true for the Joe team, especially Duke, who is the Joe Team 1SG.

PS... Anyone ever see the movie "Soldier" with Kurt Russel?

It is the seasoned NCO who has years of experience that I would go to war with. This is especially true of the NCOs who have combat experience.

[Bravestarr]

OMG that's hilarious. I hope it's not like the Cartoon where Baroness won't help cobra commander unless he dumps his girlfriend (Zarana).

Yeah, but Baroness' ex-boyfriend is Duke, not Cobra Commander.

Or does she date Cobra Commander at the end of the film?

Welcome to Bizarro World.

[Headman]

OMG that's hilarious. I hope it's not like the Cartoon where Baroness won't help cobra commander unless he dumps his girlfriend (Zarana).

Do you mean Destro?

[Blaster'spunchingbagg]

Yes it was Destro actually. My vision comes a bit younger than some posters.

Duke:36
Scarlett:34
Snake Eyes:36
Gung Ho:38
Flint:34
Lady Jaye:32
ShipWreck:35
Beach Head:35
Stalker:36
Breaker:32
Rock and Roll:30
Zap:32
Steeler:34
Clutch:33
Younger ones would be; Tunnel Rat:28, Shock Wave:27, Jinx:25
Falcon:30, Law and Order: 29 and 4, Big Lobb: 26, Chuckles:28
Psyche-Out:26, Hard Drive: 24, Bomb Strike:23, Dr. Link Talbot:30

Cobra Commander:40
Destro:38
Baroness:34
Storm Shadow:36
Zartan:34
Major Bludd:40
Dreadknocks 28-35 Road Pig, Zarana, and Zandar being late 20's
Firefly:35
Dr. Mindbender:45
Scrap-Iron:40
Youngest Cobra's The Red Shadows, and maybe Metal Head;26

[Barefoot Jedi]

I answered between 30 and 40, but I have to admit that answer was not based on knowledge of the typical age of a special forces deep-cover super highly-trained military person.

I would ASSUME that to be in GIJOE, one would have to have some really good experience under one's belt and this would take at least 5 years to accumulate. So the youngest Joes MIGHT be 23 if they enlisted in the military at age 18 and showed particular aptitudes, but even then that would be the entry age for GIJOE rather than what the bulk of the force would be. I could also see them having an age or service requirement for entry, like you have to have served 5-7-10 years in the military with outstanding record before you can even be considered for GIJOE.

I am thinking most Joes would be between 30-35 with officers 35-45. Excellent physical conditon would also have to be a prerequisite. So the older Joes would have to work triple-hard to maintain their fitness.

I was always under the impression that GIJOE membership meant you had to have particular expertise and be a stand-out in whatever branch of military you served in.

[Elite Force Cobra]

it takes years of training to be as experienced as the joes and cobras

[starscream-99]

I say 25-35. They should have used someone a bit older for Duke though.

[Zoltron]

Well in "Rise of Cobra" Destro is 40ish, Hawk is 60, Baroness is 28, etc.

Say what you will about the movie. The ages are pretty correct.

[Ground Pounder]

It seems it's really less about the age and more about the way they act. While I don't think that would excuse an extremely young General or an old private, the idea is that they act like soldiers and not emot like children all over the place. I think it's really a question of maturity that is played into the characters.

[lespaul59]

Well in the ROC: Mission Dossier book it says Ripcord is 28. And I don't know anything really about how military ranks really work but Ripcords age would tell me that Duke is either the same age and a way better soilder or he's a few years older. I think Scarlett would be younger by a few years but is where she's at because she's so smart. I would say Snake Eyes is in his mid 30's as well as Heavy Duty and Breaker. I would put Hawk at Dennis Quaid's actuall age which is 55. I would probaly put almost all of the other characters at the real age. ROC takes place in 2015 and if Hawk was in Afganastan Snake Eyes, HD and Breaker all could have served there as well. Depending on how old Scarlett is supposed to be in the movie most if not all of the Joes could have been in the military for 10 years.