Paramount Ignites New G.I. Joe Movie with Unconventional Development Strategy

Paramount Pictures is taking a bold gamble to reboot the G.I. Joe franchise, reportedly hiring two high-profile writers to work on the project simultaneously.

The studio has tapped Max Landis, whose career stalled in the late 2010s following a series of misconduct allegations, alongside Danny McBride, the creative force behind HBO hits The Righteous Gemstones and Vice Principals. Developing dual scripts is a rare but established Hollywood practice; the studio likely intends to either merge the best ideas into a single screenplay or potentially greenlight two distinct projects. Longtime G.I. Joe and Transformers veteran Lorenzo di Bonaventura is set to produce.

Landis has been largely blacklisted in Hollywood since the 2019 controversies. However, under Skydance’s leadership, Paramount seems to be leaning into a strategy of working with "controversial" talent. David Ellison has previously made headlines for bringing other "canceled" figures back into the fold, including John Lasseter and Brett Ratner.

This news follows the massive industry shift reported earlier, where Paramount acquired Warner Bros. in a staggering $110 billion deal.

Do you think the Landis-McBride duo can finally turn G.I. Joe into a top-tier blockbuster? Let us know in the comments.