Paramount Pictures has decided not to proceed with screenwriter Max Landis' pitch for a new G.I. Joe movie. The studio is continuing to explore other ideas for the franchise, including one from Danny McBride. Landis expressed gratitude for the opportunity despite the rejection.
Paramount Pictures and Hasbro engaged Max Landis earlier in 2026 to develop a script treatment for a new G.I. Joe film, based on the iconic Hasbro action figures. However, the studio has passed on the project for creative reasons, according to sources from Variety and Deadline. Landis, the son of director John Landis, described his pitch as a subversive idea where the villainous organization Cobra has taken over the world, reducing G.I. Joe to a mere conspiracy theory. He characterized it as a grounded spy thriller with a satirical adventure tone, excluding classic G.I. Joe characters. Reached via Instagram, Landis told Variety he was 'tremendously grateful to have been given the opportunity' and noted that his idea came together 'very serendipitously based on the coolness of the weird and subversive idea.' He added, 'But this is just how big IP development always is. Honestly, I was surprised it was reported at all.' One source clarified to Deadline that the decision stemmed from the project's satirical artistic tone and had 'nothing to do with Landis’ past.' Landis faced allegations of sexual misconduct from multiple women starting in 2016, which led to him being dropped by his agency CAA and management company Writ Large in 2019, derailing several projects. The G.I. Joe franchise has seen mixed results at the box office: the first two films grossed a combined $678.1 million worldwide, while the 2021 spinoff Snake Eyes earned only $40 million globally. The characters were last teased in the 2023 film Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, directed by Steven Caple Jr., hinting at a potential crossover. Paramount remains committed to relaunching the IP, with new film leadership prioritizing it alongside properties like Star Trek. The studio is still taking meetings and awaiting scripts from other writers, including Danny McBride, star and creator of The Righteous Gemstones. Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, who worked on the Transformers series, is also involved in the G.I. Joe efforts. Paramount and Hasbro did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
