Destro (G.I. Joe Film Series)

Laird James McCullen/Destro is a character from the GI JOE franchise and the main antagonist for the most part of the 2009 action film ''GI JOE The Rise of Cobra. ''He is the head of MARS Industries which serves as a faction for Cobra Command. McCullen is a descendent of a disgraced family that sold weapons to both factions of good and evil. He is played by Doctor Who actor Christopher Eccleston, who also played Malekith the Accursed in ''Thor: The Dark World. ''

GI JOE The Rise of Cobra
McCullen is introduced in the film as a philanthropic scientist and businessman who is head of MARS Industries which is researching the nanomites. He sends out four new nanomite warheads to a special location. Unknown to the military and the GI Joes, he sends his Neo Viper henchmen and the Baroness to retrieve the case for his own evil plans. He is next seen in a holographic call to the GI Joes to examine and make sure that all three of his nanomite warheads are safe and secure. Later, he orders the Baroness and his ninja assassin Storm Shadow to retrieve the case. His assistant Zartan states that nothing ever works out. But McCullen assures him that this problem is one that they will eventually fix. His main scientist, the Doctor states that he has created several Neo Viper henchmen and sends a small squad to go with Baroness and Storm Shadow to the GI Joe pit. McCullen next sees three missiles that he says will make the world turn to the most powerful man in the world.

Later, McCullen sends Baroness and Storm Shadow to Paris to weaponize the warheads and test one on the Eiffel Tower. He wanted to detonate one on the warheads on the Tower so that the French will never forget what they did to his family. He then observes the Doctor's experiments on Zartan to complete Phase 1 of his master plan to turn him into the President of the United States.

Afterwards, McCullen orders Storm Shadow to launch the three remaining warheads into the sky so that they could detonate Washington, Beijing and Moscow. He later shares a kiss with Baroness, much to Duke's disappointment. He then has the Doctor prepare for another procedure, this time on Duke. He is next shown in a flashback scene where the Doctor (revealed to be Rex Lewis) investigates the work of MARS scientist Dr. Mindbender. He then witnesses that Baroness has ignored her nanomite programming for Duke because of her love for him. He then tries to use a flame thrower at Duke, but is afterwards, severely injured in defeat. He loses command of Cobra Command as Rex Lewis assumes the title of Cobra Commander at the climax of the film. He is then given a medicine that changed his face into hardened metal. The Commander then dubs him Destro. After this, he is apprehanded with the Commander by the GI Joes and taken to a secret prison.

GI Joe Retaliation
Destro is seen when Storm Shadow breaks into the prison to free both him and the Cobra Commander. He only shoots the Commander's tube and leaves Destro to die.