G.I. Joe Gets Serious
Danny McBride Crafts Grounded G.I. Joe Reboot, Studio Aims for 2027 Production Start
Key Points
McBride originally pitched a Dreadnoks-focused movie to Paramount, but the studio asked him to reboot G.I. Joe proper and write that script instead.
The film is set in Springfield, a town that, in GI Joe canon, is secretly Cobra-controlled and serves as the story's central location.
McBride says he still has all the G.I. Joe characters from his childhood and remains deeply passionate about the franchise.
Aside from G.I. Joe, McBride has co-written Blumhouse’s Halloween trilogy, demonstrating his ability to blend horror, suspense and humor beyond straight comedy.
Paramount has tapped Danny McBride to write and produce a new G.I. Joe movie, with production targeting a 2027 start, according to CBR and The Playlist. The reboot will center on Duke and a team of Joes uncovering a dark secret — and McBride says the script is already done.
McBride is best known for comedy — HBO's The Righteous Gemstones and Eastbound & Down — but he says this film won't be one. "It's not going to be a comedy," he told reporters. The project marks the franchise's first major film push since a failed 2021 reboot attempt.
McBride Traded Dreadnoks for a Full Reboot
McBride didn't originally plan to rewrite the whole franchise. He first pitched Paramount a movie focused on the Dreadnoks — a biker gang villain group from G.I. Joe lore. Paramount said no. They wanted him to reboot G.I. Joe from the ground up, according to Collider.
McBride agreed and got to work. He still owns his G.I. Joe action figures from childhood, and that personal connection shaped the script. "I have all my G.I. Joe characters," he said. Paramount also considered a competing pitch from writer Max Landis but ultimately gave McBride the lead role in shaping the franchise's future, according to Head Topics.
Springfield, Cobra's Secret Town, Is the Story's Core
The film is set in Springfield — a fictional American town secretly run by the terrorist organization Cobra. That plot comes straight from classic G.I. Joe canon. Duke and his team discover and infiltrate the town, forming the spine of the story.
McBride says the tone will be grounded in suspense and action. Think less Michael Bay explosion-fest, more tense thriller. That's a big shift for the franchise, which leaned heavily on spectacle in the 2009 and 2013 films. Collider noted McBride has specifically described the film as "grounded."
McBride's Horror Credentials Back Up the Tonal Shift
Some fans may wonder if a comedy writer can pull off a serious action film. McBride has a strong case. He co-wrote all three films in Blumhouse's Halloween reboot trilogy, including Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills (2021), and Halloween Ends (2022). Those films blended horror, suspense, and dark humor — a mix close to what he's chasing here.
The Playlist reported McBride is eyeing a shoot date as early as next year, though other outlets point to 2027 as the firmer target. Either way, the script is finished and the project is moving. That puts it ahead of where many reboots stall out.
Transformers Crossover Shelved Due to Franchise Complexity
A G.I. Joe and Transformers crossover has been floated for years. Hasbro owns both properties, and a shared universe seemed like an easy win. But that plan is now on hold, according to Head Topics. Merging two large franchises with different tones and fan bases proved too complicated to move forward quickly.
For now, Paramount is focused on getting the standalone G.I. Joe reboot right first. That's likely the smarter move. The franchise has stumbled twice already — the 2009 Rise of Cobra and 2013 Retaliation both underperformed expectations. McBride's grounded approach is Paramount's bet on a fresh start.
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