Paramount has passed on Max Landis’ treatment for a new G.I. Joe movie, and the reason fits with what we’ve already been hearing about the franchise.
According to Deadline, the studio is not moving forward with Landis’ take and is still taking meetings as it looks for the right direction for a new G.I. Joe reboot.
Danny McBride (Halloween) is said to be among those with a pitch in the mix, while Transformers producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura remains involved.
Why Paramount Passed
Deadline says Landis’ version was described as a grounded spy thriller with a satirical adventure tone and without the classic G.I. Joe characters.
The outlet adds that the studio passed because it did not want to commit to that satirical artistic approach, and that the decision had nothing to do with Landis’ past.
That lines up exactly with what I was told. Our SnyderVerse source previously said Paramount wants a throwback, 80s-style action film that stays true to the spirit of the animated series, and that the studio is still talking to directors.
So if Landis came in with something more grounded, ironic, and removed from the classic characters, it makes sense that Paramount would move on.
Update: Variety says that, when reached via Instagram, Landis said he was “tremendously grateful to have been given the opportunity.” He added that his pitch came together “very serendipitously based on the coolness of the weird and subversive idea.” According to Landis, that concept involved Cobra “having successfully taken over the world and reduced GI Joe to a conspiracy theory. But this is just how big IP development always is. Honestly, I was surprised it was reported at all.”
Paramount Wants A More Traditional G.I. Joe Movie
The bigger takeaway is that Paramount still appears to want a more straightforward G.I. Joe movie built around recognizable characters, broad audience appeal, and old-school action.
That also fits with the tone of the original animated series. The cartoon was patriotic, heroic, and unapologetically pro-American, with the Joes presented as clear-cut heroes fighting Cobra, a ruthless terrorist organization bent on global domination.
It was simple good-versus-evil storytelling, built for mainstream audiences, not a self-aware or a goofy satirical spin.
Why Retail And Brand Value Matter
Deadline also notes that revitalized G.I. Joe retail sales are considered essential for Paramount.
G.I. Joe is not just a movie property. It is a merchandise-driven brand, and the studio likely wants a film that can move toys, appeal to longtime fans, and reintroduce the brand to younger audiences.
Making a joke of the IP as a satirical spy-thriller take without the classic characters was never going to do that, compared to a more traditional, crowd-pleasing reboot.
The Franchise Is Still In Play
Paramount clearly has not given up on G.I. Joe. The studio is still meeting with creatives, and the Transformers crossover idea teased at the end of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts reportedly remains a possibility.
The franchise also still has box office upside. The first two live-action G.I. Joe movies grossed a combined $678.1 million worldwide, while 2021’s Snake Eyes crashed with only $40 million globally. That leaves Paramount in a position where it needs to reset the brand, not experiment with something too offbeat.
This Supports What We’ve Been Reporting
What Deadline reported only adds to the picture that has been forming for weeks. Paramount does not appear to be chasing deconstruction, satire, or a grounded reinvention.
It appears to be looking for a more traditional blockbuster version of G.I. Joe, one that leans into the property’s 80s roots and classic heroic identity.
It fits with what we are told, that Paramount wants big testosterone-driven event films.
