Paramount has dated its next “G.I. Joe” movie for October 20, 2028, the studio announced Friday. Danny McBride directs from a script he co-wrote with Jeff Fradley and John Carcieri, and Bradley Cooper has the lead role.
Back in February, news broke that both Max Landis and McBride had been hired by Paramount to develop separate scripts for a new take on “G.I. Joe.” McBride's pitch won out: Paramount chose his concept over Landis's draft, and by July he was officially set to direct. The film marks his feature directing debut, though he has helmed plenty of TV, including his HBO series “The Righteous Gemstones” and “Vice Principals.”
Then came Cooper's casting as field commander Duke, a reunion of sorts, since Cooper previously appeared in an episode of “The Righteous Gemstones.” Channing Tatum played Duke in 2009's “The Rise of Cobra” and its 2013 sequel, “Retaliation.”
McBride is a genuine fan. He originally went to Paramount wanting to make a Dreadnoks movie centered on the evil mercenary group, but the studio told him the franchise needed a proper reboot, so that's what he's delivering. The story follows Duke and the Joes, with Springfield, the town secretly controlled by Cobra in the franchise's mythology, playing a major role.
Cooper recently shot his “Ocean's Eleven” prequel, which he is writing, directing, and starring in, and will likely follow that project with McBride's “G.I. Joe.” He is also expected to star in Sean Penn's January 6 film, but that one won't begin shooting until late 2027. Cooper's recent work includes “The Mule,” “Nightmare Alley,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” and “Maestro,” along with supporting roles in “Is This Thing On?” and “Licorice Pizza.”
There have been three live-action “G.I. Joe” films: “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” (2009), “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” (2013), and “Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins” (2021). While all three received negative reviews from critics, they achieved varying levels of commercial success. “The Rise of Cobra” earned approximately $302 million worldwide, while “Retaliation” performed better, with about $376 million globally. The series declined with “Snake Eyes,” which grossed around $40 million worldwide against a significantly larger budget.
October 2028 is a long way off, but at least Paramount now has its “G.I. Joe” movie on the calendar.
Paramount has dated its next “G.I. Joe” movie for October 20, 2028. Danny McBride directs from a script he co-wrote with Jeff Fradley and John Carcieri. Bradley Cooper has the lead role.