Danny McBride to Direct New G.I. Joe Movie for Paramount

Paramount Pictures has officially selected actor, writer, and producer Danny McBride to direct its upcoming feature film based on the Hasbro G.I. Joe toy line. The announcement confirms that McBride, who had already been tapped to pen the screenplay, will transition into the director's chair for his feature film debut. This development, first reported by The Hollywood Reporter, is a notable shift for the franchise as the studio looks to revitalize the intellectual property under its current regime.

The project arrives as the studio seeks to build momentum for the brand, which has remained largely dormant since the 2021 release of Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins. The road to this current iteration has been marked by development challenges, including the studio's decision to abandon a separate screenplay previously commissioned from Max Landis. According to The Wrap, the G.I. Joe film is a primary focus for the studio's leadership as it expands its core brands, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Star Trek.

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While McBride is widely recognized for his work in television comedy—most notably as the creator and star of HBO's The Righteous Gemstones and Vice Principals—he maintains that his approach to this adaptation will diverge from his past comedic projects. Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, McBride clarified the tone of the upcoming film.

"It’s not a comedy. It’s kind of suspense and action. Yeah, it’s going to be a lot of fun. Whole ensemble."

Danny McBride, director and screenwriter, via Happy Sad Confused

McBride developed the script in collaboration with Jeff Fradley and John Carcieri, both frequent partners on his television series. The narrative is set to center on the character of Duke and a team of Joes, focusing on the fictional town of Springfield. In the comic books, this location is defined as a town secretly controlled by the villainous organization Cobra. McBride noted that this setting serves as the primary location for the film's events.

The filmmaker's connection to the franchise is deeply rooted in his childhood. During his discussion on Happy Sad Confused, McBride noted, G.I. Joe was my thing when I was a kid. I liked that more than Star Wars, more than anything. I loved G.I. Joe. He further mentioned that he initially pitched the studio a concept focused on the Dreadnoks, Cobra's band of mercenaries led by Zartan, before the studio requested that he shift his focus to reestablishing the core G.I. Joe team.

Franchise Context and Production Timeline

• Strategic Priority: The film is a major focus for Paramount, which has previously released G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra in 2009, G.I. Joe: Retaliation in 2013, and Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins in 2021.
• Production Goals: Regarding the schedule for the feature, McBride has stated that the current goal is to begin shooting in 2027.
• Creative Approach: The screenplay is intended to ground the G.I. Joe universe in suspense and action, drawing inspiration from espionage and military tension found in the source comic books.

As the project moves into the pre-production phase, the studio has not provided an official release date.