Paramount Passes on Landis G.I. Joe Reboot Pitch

Paramount Pictures and Hasbro have decided not to move forward with a proposed reboot of the G.I. Joe franchise from screenwriter Max Landis, according to multiple sources familiar with the project. The studio, which has been seeking fresh ideas to revive the action series, passed on Landis's treatment earlier this year amid efforts to expand the Hasbro toy line's cinematic presence.

Landis, known for his work on films like Chronicle, submitted a pitch that envisioned a subversive twist on the classic storyline. In his concept, the villainous organization Cobra would have already succeeded in conquering the world, relegating the elite military unit G.I. Joe to the status of a fringe conspiracy theory. The idea aimed to reimagine the franchise in a dystopian, ground-level spy thriller style, diverging from traditional elements like the core characters. Landis confirmed the details in a statement to Variety, expressing appreciation for the opportunity. "I'm tremendously grateful to have been given the opportunity," he said. "The pitch came together very serendipitously based on the coolness of the weird and subversive idea." He added that such outcomes are common in large-scale...