Paramount Taps Max Landis & Danny McBride To Write Dual Scripts for New GI Joe Movie

In a surprising development, Paramount Pictures has tapped two names in an attempt to revamp its live-action GI Joe movie franchise. Per The Hollywood Reporter, Paramount Skydance has tapped Chronicle screenwriter Max Landis and Righteous Gemstones creator Danny McBride to write separate scripts for a reboot of the popular Hasbro action figure franchise.

The plan is to have Landis and McBridge write separate treatments on GI Joe, with the David Ellison-owned studio then trying to blend the two scripts together. However, THR notes that a studio source is claiming that both scripts are “two separate projects.”

Back at CinemaCon 2024, Paramount Pictures announced plans for a crossover movie for GI Joe and Transformers that would see the iconic properties meet on the big screen for the first time. A credits scene for 2024’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts even teased the potential crossover. However, that was before the eventual merger between Paramount and Skydance.

The Landis aspect of the project is a surprising one. The son of prominent director John Landis appeared to be a rising star of the industry, having worked on the breakout hit Chronicle in 2012. He also wrote the 2017 urban fantasy action movie, Bright, released on Netflix in 2017, which was a major hit for the streamer.

Landis also became well known in the wrestling community for his “Wrestling Isn’t Wrestling” videos. However, his career seemingly imploded during the height of the #MeToo movement, when the writer and creator faced multiple allegations of sexual and emotional abuse and acts of sexual misconduct.

Following the allegations, Landis was dropped by his reps at CAA and Writ Large, and projects that he had been developing were dissolved. No charges were filed against him. In a YouTube video he released three years ago, Landis reportedly acknowledged making mistakes in his relationships and admitted to being a toxic partner to his former girlfriends, saying, “I get why certain people hate me.”

Four years ago, Landis released a new superhero-themed video, titled “Max Landis Presents: The Deposition Of Barry Allen,” where he portrays The Flash alter-ego Barry Allen, performing a monologue during a court deposition.

Danny McBride is also an actor known for his work in comedies such as Tropic Thunder and Pineapple Express, along with his TV shows Eastbound & Down and Vice Principals, which he also co-created. Despite being best known for his comedic work, McBride has done work in alternative genres before, such as co-writing the latest Halloween Trilogy for Blumhouse Pictures and Universal, which was a strong commercial success. He also co-wrote David Gordon Green’s The Exorcist: Believer sequel. However, the legacy franchise revival was a critical and commercial failure.

New GI Joe Movie Gains Surprising Writers at Paramount

Lorenzo di Bonaventura is currently attached as the producer for the GI Joe project, having previously produced the last three live-action efforts and the Transformers live-action movies.

The GI Joe franchise has overall had a mixed bag at the box office. However, the latest effort, 2021’s Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, was a critical and commercial failure, grossing only $40 million worldwide off a reported $110 million budget.