A franchise built on shock-and-awe just made its quietest move yet. Who’s really steering G.I. Joe when two scripts race ahead and the headline promise suddenly goes missing?
Paramount and Hasbro quietly hit the brakes on one G.I. Joe sequel script, even as a separate take from Danny McBride keeps rolling. The halted draft came from Max Landis, whose past acclaim and later misconduct allegations now shadow any comeback, though the studio cites creative differences. The whiplash captures Hollywood’s uneasy calculus with controversial talent and evergreen IP, with talk of Transformers tie-ins and the names of Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis hovering over a stalled mission. For now, the franchise moves forward on a parallel track, proof that in this town the pivot can be faster than the greenlight.
A sequel that vanished as quickly as it appeared
Earlier this month, Paramount and Hasbro teased a fresh G.I. Joe chapter, one that could have brought back Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis. Excitement spiked, then evaporated: the sequel was abruptly shelved over reported creative differences. Executives had signaled renewed appetite after mixed box-office returns and the 2021 prequel Snake Eyes. The reversal resets a series still hunting for a coherent plan, leaving Johnson and Willis off the board—so where does that leave the franchise?
Two scripts, two visions
The studio pursued two parallel paths to recharge the franchise. Max Landis, known for 2012’s Chronicle, developed one script; actor-writer Danny McBride tackled another. Landis’ take is now out, while McBride’s draft keeps moving, with chatter about a possible Transformers bridge announced earlier at CinemaCon 2024 (and teased in Rise of the Beasts).
Landis script: dropped for creative reasons (per Variety).
McBride project: active development at Paramount and Hasbro.
Franchise outlook: potential crossover remains on the table.
Paramount has used dual-script development before on tentpoles, then fused the strongest beats. The endgame here may sync with the teased G.I. Joe–Transformers crossover, consolidating budgets and marketing firepower while easing franchise risk.
Max Landis: a name that splits opinions
Max Landis’ trajectory is dramatic. Early acclaim for Chronicle collided with allegations of abuse reported by several women in 2019 (widely reported at the time). Although his attachment sparked curiosity, Paramount ultimately pivoted, citing creative factors. That history inevitably colors any new attachment, regardless of genre or budget.
Danny McBride carrying the torch
Meanwhile, Danny McBride keeps widening his lane. His offbeat bite powered Eastbound & Down, Vice Principals, and The Righteous Gemstones, and he helped script the 2018–2022 Halloween trilogy. Translating that sensibility to G.I. Joe could yield character-forward bravado, the kind that balances quips, kinetics, and stakes. If McBride leans into grounded camaraderie over lore dumps, the brand could finally find a voice.
The industry’s reckoning with controversy
Hollywood’s memory is long, yet its calculus shifts quickly. Skydance hired John Lasseter despite workplace complaints, and has been linked to distributing Rush Hour 4 as Brett Ratner circles a comeback; both moves drew sustained criticism. Studios are weighing brand equity against blowback in real time, often under activist shareholder pressure.
This is the case with legacy IPs that must woo fans while avoiding headlines that scorch goodwill. Risk management now sits beside story development, shaping greenlights and casting. How that tension plays out will help determine whether G.I. Joe returns—alone, or flanked by giant robots with global box-office reach.