G.I. Joe is back.
The iconic military action franchise, based on Hasbro’s long-running toy line, first stormed into live-action adaptations with G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, followed by G.I. Joe: Retaliation and later the spinoff Snake Eyes. Collectively, the trilogy grossed hundreds of millions worldwide, but inconsistent critical reception and changing creative directions prevented the franchise from establishing itself as a reliable cinematic universe.
According to a new report by The Hollywood Reporter, two new G.I. Joe movies are in development at Paramount by Max Landis and Danny McBride. The films are being developed with the hope that both projects will eventually be combined down the line.
Landis previously penned films like 2012’s Chronicle and Netflix’s Bright, but his career stalled after multiple allegations accusing him of sexual and emotional abuse came out in 2019, reaching a peak in an exposé by The Daily Beast. His involvement in a high-profile reboot is already sparking conversation, given the allegations.
Henry Golding in Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins
On the other hand, McBride is best known for creating and starring in HBO series like Eastbound & Down and The Righteous Gemstones. McBride represents a dramatically different creative voice. Where Landis’ previous work has leaned into genre spectacle and heightened character drama, McBride’s sensibilities often blend absurdist comedy with sharp character studies.
While unusual, this strategy isn’t unprecedented. The approach gained traction during the 2010s when studios aggressively developed major IP. The plan seems to be to evaluate each script independently and potentially merge the strongest elements into a single cohesive film.
The move suggests Paramount is looking to avoid the creative missteps that have previously hindered the franchise. While the early entries earned sizable global box office returns, with The Rise of Cobra grossing $302 million worldwide, and Retaliation $375 million. However, the franchise struggled to find consistent critical support, and with 2021’s Snake Eyes underperforming commercially, earning just $40.1 million at the box office against an $88 million budget, the franchise’s cinematic future was left uncertain.
Warner Bros.’ The Legend of Tarzan and Universal Pictures’ The Mummy reboot both had multiple writers working on different versions before elements merged, or one script ultimately pulled ahead. Paramount itself has experimented with parallel development before, putting both its Transformers and Star Trek franchises on multiple creative tracks at once, developing several scripts simultaneously, and even exploring a G.I. Joe/Transformers crossover project.
The G.I. Joe brand remains one of Hasbro’s most recognizable IPs, with decades of comics, animated series, and action figures fueling a loyal audience. However, translating that nostalgia into a successful entry both critically and at the box office has proven challenging. By developing two different interpretations, the studio may be testing tonal boundaries and weighing whether G.I. Joe should embrace a grounded realism or pivot toward a more stylized, character-forward reinvention.
For now, both scripts are in development, with no directors or casting decisions having been announced. It remains unclear which writer’s vision might ultimately take precedence, or how two separate creative approaches could be fused into one blockbuster story. What is clear is that Paramount is taking an unconventional gamble by investing in parallel reboots from two vastly different voices in its effort to revive G.I. Joe.
Created by
Donald Levine
Latest TV Show
G.I. Joe Renegades
First Episode Air Date
September 12, 1983