Danny McBride, widely celebrated for his writing and acting in projects like The Righteous Gemstones, has stepped into the director’s chair for Paramount’s latest attempt to revitalize the long-dormant G.I. Joe film franchise.
During a recent sit-down on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, McBride opened up about his vision for the property. A lifelong fan who admits to favoring the G.I. Joe lore even over iconic staples like Star Wars, McBride originally pitched the studio on a gritty film centered on the Dreadnoks. However, Paramount steered him toward a broader, foundational reboot of the core G.I. Joe narrative.
Ultimately, a script penned by McBride and his Righteous Gemstones cohorts earned the studio’s approval, successfully outpacing an earlier draft by Max Landis. McBride noted that the executives are genuinely enthusiastic about his fresh, unconventional direction for the series.
“It’s surprisingly grounded—it’s not leaning into comedy,” McBride shared. “It’s a suspense-driven action film, and I think it’s going to be a blast. We’re focusing on Duke and a squad of Joes, set entirely within Springfield, that classic town from the comics that operates as a secret Cobra stronghold.”
While the project is still in its nascent stages, it offers a promising glimpse into the future of the brand. This effort marks the franchise’s first major silver-screen outing since the lackluster 2021 release of Snake Eyes. Crucially, it appears distinct from the crossover event previously hinted at during the finale of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
As we await official production updates, McBride’s involvement suggests the franchise may finally be finding a cohesive, compelling path forward. If you’re eager for a G.I. Joe fix right now, it’s worth checking out the solid beat ’em up title G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra from indie.io.
Source: Polygon
