Bradley Cooper Set to Play Duke in New G.I. Joe Film

Bradley Cooper is set to play Duke in Paramount’s new G.I. Joe film, according to reports of the casting. Danny McBride is directing and co-writing the project, which is being developed as a relaunch of the franchise and will be separate from a previously discussed G.I. Joe-Transformers crossover that is no longer in development. The casting report says Cooper has signed on for the role, a central leader in the G.I. Joe team. The information traces to a single underlying report, and the supplied material does not include a direct confirmation from Cooper or Paramount. The studio has not announced the rest of the cast or a release date, according to the reports. McBride is writing the screenplay with Jeff Fradley and John Carcieri, and is directing the film. Paramount has described the project as a reimagining of the G.I. Joe franchise. The previous live-action films starred Channing Tatum as Duke, but the new movie is being presented as a fresh start rather than a continuation of those films. The project will also proceed independently of the planned crossover with Transformers.