Paramount Pictures has reportedly passed on a Max Landis G.I. Joe screenplay that had been under consideration as part of the studio’s effort to revive the long-dormant action franchise.
According to multiple reports citing the trades, Paramount commissioned separate script treatments earlier this year from writer Max Landis and actor-writer Danny McBride as the studio explored new directions for the property. But after reviewing Landis’s pitch, the studio has decided not to move forward with his version of the film.
The decision leaves McBride’s script—and potentially additional writers’ pitches—as the primary options moving forward for the next installment of the G.I. Joe franchise.
Paramount Passes on Max Landis G.I. Joe Pitch
Reports indicate the studio’s decision was driven primarily by creative considerations rather than controversy surrounding Landis himself.
Paramount had initially pursued a dual-track strategy, commissioning separate screenplays from Landis and McBride with the idea that the best direction—or possibly a combination of ideas—would shape the next film.
Paramount Passes on ‘G.I. Joe’ Treatment from Max Landis (EXCLUSIVE) https://t.co/HaD3mpP8yt
— Variety (@Variety) March 14, 2026
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Ultimately, however, Paramount reportedly determined that Landis’s concept didn’t align with the direction it wanted to take the franchise.
Landis’s pitch reportedly centered on a radical reimagining of the classic property. In his version of the story, the villainous organization Cobra had already conquered the world, leaving the once-heroic G.I. Joe team reduced to little more than a conspiracy theory.
While Landis described the concept as a “weird and subversive idea,” it appears Paramount wasn’t convinced it was the right approach for rebooting one of its legacy toy-based brands.
Landis Responds to the Rejection
Despite the rejection, Landis appeared to take the news in stride.
The writer told Variety he was “tremendously grateful” for the opportunity to pitch his take on the franchise and noted that creative development for large intellectual properties often involves multiple pitches that never make it to production.
A screenshot from the G.I. Joe Movies – Paramount+
Landis added that he was surprised the project had even been reported publicly in the first place, suggesting the process was simply part of the typical studio development cycle.
Danny McBride’s Script Still in Development
With the Max Landis G.I. Joe project now off the table, attention has shifted to Danny McBride’s version of the story.
McBride is best known for creating and starring in HBO comedy series including Eastbound & Down, Vice Principals, and The Righteous Gemstones. He also collaborated with director David Gordon Green on the recent Halloween film trilogy.
Cobra Commander – Hasbro
Paramount is reportedly still awaiting McBride’s completed script while also considering pitches from other writers as the studio attempts to determine the future direction of the brand.
Paramount Still Trying to Revive the Franchise
Paramount has been trying to relaunch the G.I. Joe franchise for years with mixed results.
The original live-action film, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, debuted in 2009 and was followed by the 2013 sequel G.I. Joe: Retaliation. The most recent attempt to expand the universe came in 2021 with Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, which struggled at the box office despite a production budget estimated between $88 million and $110 million and ultimately grossed only about $40 million worldwide.
Those disappointing results left the franchise’s cinematic future uncertain, but Paramount and toy company Hasbro remain interested in finding a successful formula that could relaunch the brand.
The studio’s willingness to commission multiple scripts suggests executives are casting a wide net in search of the right creative approach.
G.I. Joe – Hasbro
For now, the Max Landis G.I. Joe project appears to be a dead end, but the franchise itself is still very much alive behind the scenes.
And with McBride’s pitch still in development—and additional writers reportedly exploring their own takes—the battle to determine the next chapter of the “Real American Hero” is far from over.
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