Paramount Hires Landis, McBride for G.I. Joe Reboot

Paramount Pictures has enlisted screenwriters Max Landis and Danny McBride to develop separate treatments for a potential reboot of the G.I. Joe film franchise, according to sources familiar with the project. The studio, now under the influence of its recent merger with Skydance Media, aims to combine elements from both scripts into a single film, though one studio insider indicated the efforts could result in two distinct projects.

The hiring represents a fresh attempt to revive the Hasbro-owned action series, which has seen three live-action movies since 2009 with mixed results. The initiative comes as Paramount explores ways to expand its portfolio of toy-based blockbusters, building on the success of its Transformers films. Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, who oversaw the previous G.I. Joe entries as well as the Transformers series, is attached to the new development.

Landis, the son of director John Landis, rose to prominence in the early 2010s with scripts for films like the 2012 found-footage superhero movie Chronicle and the 2017 Netflix fantasy actioner Bright, which drew significant viewership for the streamer. He also gained a following in niche communities through...