Paramount Appoints Danny McBride to Direct G.I. Joe Reboot

Paramount Pictures has officially set Danny McBride to direct its upcoming live-action reboot of the "G.I. Joe" franchise, marking the actor and writer's feature film directorial debut. The announcement, confirmed on July 15, 2026, follows McBride's earlier attachment to write the screenplay for the untitled project, which is a high priority for the studio under new owner David Ellison.

McBride, known for creating and starring in HBO series like "The Righteous Gemstones" and "Vice Principals," will direct from a script he co-wrote with his frequent collaborators Jeff Fradley and John Carcieri. In a recent interview on the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast, McBride described his take as an action-suspense film that aims to ground the iconic property. He emphasized it is not a comedy and will feature the full ensemble of characters.

A key story detail revealed by McBride is that the film will be set primarily in Springfield, the fictional town that secretly serves as a front for the terrorist organization COBRA. The plot will follow Duke, a fan-favorite character previously played by Channing Tatum in earlier films, along with a group of other Joes. While no casting has been officially...