Over the weekend, we got an update concerning Paramount Pictures’ development on a new feature film set in the world of their sci-fi military IP, “G.I. Joe.” Well, after reports from late February that Danny McBride (“The Righteous Gemstones”) and Max Landis (“Bright”) were being tasked to develop separate versions, the studio won’t be moving forward with Landis’ idea.
A report from Variety has revealed that the studio has passed on Landis’ treatment (that was fast, right?), adding statements from the screenwriter himself saying he was “tremendously grateful to have been given the opportunity.”
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Landis would also talk up his pitch as “very serendipitously based on the coolness of the weird and subversive idea.” As his idea for the new movie would have centered around the film franchise’s villainous terrorist collective, Cobra, “having successfully taken over the world and reduced G.I. Joe to a conspiracy theory. But this is just how big IP development always is. Honestly, I was surprised it was reported at all.”
Once seen as a creative on the rise after his “Akira” inspired sci-fi film “Chronicle” (featuring a young Michael B. Jordan and directed by Josh Trank), he would go on to write other studio projects until in 2016, eight women made allegations of sexual assault and misconduct (this point confused many people why Paramount would suddendly work with the writer on a kids’ franchise linked to aHasbro toyline).
Previously, there had been rumblings of MCU actor Chris Hemsworth (“Avengers: Doomsday”) potentially leading a “Transformers” and “G.I. Joe” crossover movie after long talk of the “Joe” member Chuckles (allowing for a comedic angle) potentially taking over the lead protagonist role from Duke (played by Channing Tatum) and Roadblock (played by Dwayne Johnson). McBride is likely still involved with the project until we hear otherwise.
Paramount attempted a reboot of “G.I. Joe” with its “Snake Eyes” origin tale, but Henry Golding doesn’t believe he’ll be reprising the role anytime soon, after the movie failed to make a splash with audiences. It’s also unknown if we’ll see his co-stars, Andrew Koji (Storm Shadow) or Samara Weaving (Scarlett), return to their roles from “Snake Eyes” again.
In the meantime, the other big military action-adventure project in the works at Paramount is a live-action feature based on the FPS video game, “Call of Duty,” with Paramount TV’s face Taylor Sheridan (“Yellowstone,” “Sicario”) being set to pen the script, and director Peter Berg (“Lone Survivor”) also involved to helm it.
We’ll have to be patient to see what ultimately happens next for the “G.I. Joe” movies at Paramount, given the different projects being in the works.
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
