Paramount is charting a fresh course for its military action franchise with a brand new G.I. Joe feature film, securing Bradley Cooper to take the lead. Cooper will portray the central military hero First Sergeant Duke, taking over a character previously played on the big screen by Channing Tatum. The upcoming project will be helmed by director, writer, and comedian Danny McBride, widely recognized as the co-creator and star of The Righteous Gemstones, who is crafting a fresh restart for the Hasbro-born universe.
Danny McBride Secures His Top Casting Choice
McBride secured the directing assignment earlier this year after competing against multiple rival pitches for the military franchise. Once on board, the filmmaker formulated a dream cast wishlist for the ensemble, placing Cooper at the very top of his priorities. The casting comes during an intensely busy period for Cooper, who is currently immersed in production on a self-written, directed, and starring Ocean's prequel project. That endeavor follows closely behind another feature he wrote, directed, and starred in, titled Is This Thing On? Despite his packed slate, McBride's script captured Cooper's interest and earned his commitment to lead the refreshed storyline.
Plot Centered on the Secret Cobra Town of Springfield
At its core, Hasbro's G.I. Joe follows the missions of an elite military unit engaged in a relentless struggle against Cobra, a ruthless criminal network seeking global dominance. While most specific narrative details remain tightly guarded, McBride shared several foundational elements during an appearance on Joshua Horowitz's Happy, Sad, Confused podcast in July. The filmmaker disclosed that the plot tracks Duke alongside a unit of fellow Joes operating in an apparently normal town named Springfield. According to McBride, the location is secretly under complete Cobra control, serving as the primary setting where the movie unfolds.
A Total Break From Past Franchise Continuity
The upcoming production marks a clean creative slate rather than a continuation of earlier cinematic installments. Previous releases include 2009's G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra, followed by 2013's G.I. Joe: Retaliation, and the 2021 prequel venture Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins. Furthermore, the previously discussed crossover between Transformers and G.I. Joe is officially no longer moving forward. Having grown from a celebrated line of action figures into comic books and animated series, G.I. Joe is now heading into a distinct new chapter driven by the creative combination of McBride and Cooper.
