'G.I. Joe' spinoff 'Snake Eyes' begins filming in Japan with Henry Golding

The cast of upcoming G.I. Joe spin-off movie Snake Eyes received a traditional Japanese blessing today ahead of the start of filming in Tokyo.

Also known by the rather more cumbersome moniker Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, the film follows Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding as the titular martial artist — a fan favourite character in the G.I. Joe world.

Robert Schwentke, who directed comic book movie Red as well as two Divergent films, is behind the camera on Snake Eyes, which will serve as an origin story for the character.

Ahead of cameras rolling in Japan, key members of the cast and crew paid a visit to the Hie-Jinja Shrine in Tokyo — a Shinto site dating back more than 500 years.

Read more: Golding responds to James Bond rumours

Those in attendance received a traditional blessing, including Golding, Schwentke and co-stars Iko Uwais, Andrew Koji, Haruka Abe and Takehiro Hira.

Samara Weaving is also a part of the cast as G.I. Joe team member Scarlett, but was not present in Tokyo.

The Tokyo leg of filming for Snake Eyes comes in the wake of previous production in Vancouver, Canada last year.

Read more: Weaving on her Ready or Not role

It’s the first G.I. Joe movie since 2013 sequel G.I. Joe: Retaliation received a poor critical response, sending Paramount back to the drawing board.

That film and its predecessor both featured martial arts performer Ray Park — best known as Darth Maul in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace — as Snake Eyes.

Snake Eyes is traditionally depicted as a ninja commando who wears a mask and doesn’t speak, though it is unclear whether this will be the case in his origin story.

Golding has recently appeared in films including festive romcom Last Christmas and Guy Ritchie’s crime thriller The Gentlemen.

Read more: Hugh Grant on going dark for The Gentlemen

Despite negative reviews from film critics, Last Christmas has been a major box office success, raking in $121m (￡92m) at the global box office.

Snake Eyes will arrive in US cinemas on 16 October, with a UK release date yet to be confirmed.