Danny McBride to direct new G.I. Joe film; Bradley Cooper rumoured to star

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Five years after the last G.I. Joe movie released in 2021, famed comedian, writer, and actor Danny McBride is set to direct a new installment in the franchise for Paramount.

Hot off the heels of HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones , McBride (Pineapple Express, Tropic Thunder) is taking the helm of this upcoming feature film, for which he had already written the screenplay.

This will be the first time McBride has directed a feature film, but it isn’t his first rodeo in the director’s chair; he notably created and was executive producer for The Righteous Gemstones, several episodes of which he also directed.

McBride’s script is one of two that have been written for the film, the first of which was penned by Max Landis and ultimately scrapped .

This news follows rumors that Bradley Cooper (A-Team, American Hustle) is potentially being eyed for a role in the movie, with sources telling Nexus Point News that he's poised to replace Chris Hemsworth, who reportedly exited the role for undisclosed reasons.

As per The Hollywood Reporter, G.I. Joe is a big focus for Paramount right now, along with other franchises under its ownership like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Star Trek.

McBride’s G.I. Joe film marks the most recent adaptation of the 80s Hasbro toy line, whose last movie, Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, hit theaters in July 2021, also distributed by Paramount.

The flick served as a complete reboot of the entire series but was met with mixed reviews. We scored it a 7/10 , saying that despite its “confusing and disorienting” fight scenes, the “strong character work throughout” the film and its “sensible approach” to the universe were an “admirable attempt” at tackling the franchise.

Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she’s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze .