Bradley Cooper Joins Danny McBride’s ‘G.I. Joe’ Reboot

Hasbro’s iconic military toy line has faced challenges on the big screen in recent years. Following ‘G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra‘ in 2009 and ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation’ in 2013, Paramount attempted to revive the franchise with 2021’s ‘Snake Eyes’, which only managed to gross $40 million. Since then, the property has remained inactive.

However, this is set to change under Paramount’s new leadership. Now owned by David Ellison, the studio is intensifying its focus on major brands, with a new ‘G.I. Joe’ film being a top priority. Danny McBride, a self-proclaimed fan of the franchise, has written the script and will make his feature directing debut with this project.

The film has now secured its lead. According to Variety, Bradley Cooper will portray field commander Duke in Paramount’s ‘G.I. Joe’ movie directed by McBride. The casting announcement was made by Paramount on Thursday.

While plot details and additional casting remain undisclosed, Paramount assures fans of a fresh perspective on the beloved toy line. McBride collaborated with Jeff Fradley and John Carcieri on the screenplay. The studio has also confirmed that this film will not be linked to the ‘Transformers’ franchise, which had been hinted at the conclusion of 2023’s ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’.

Duke, whose full name is Conrad Hauser, hails from St. Louis, Missouri, and serves as the team’s field leader. Channing Tatum previously portrayed him in two live-action films, although the character met an early demise in the sequel. Cooper is now stepping into the role for a reimagined narrative.

Securing Cooper was a significant achievement. As reported by Deadline, he was at the top of McBride’s wish list, though there were concerns about his commitments to direct and star in another project alongside Margot Robbie and Monica Barbaro. After reading the script and meeting with McBride, Cooper was reportedly enthusiastic about negotiating.

For Cooper, this marks a rare venture into franchise territory. His most recent major role was as Leonard Bernstein in ‘Maestro’, a project he co-wrote and directed, which garnered four Oscar nominations. He also co-wrote, directed, and starred in ‘Is This Thing On?’, and lends his voice to Rocket in Marvel’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ series.

Cooper and McBride share a history as well. The actor previously appeared in an episode of McBride’s HBO series ‘The Righteous Gemstones’, making their collaboration feel more like a creative reunion than a typical studio pairing.

Despite McBride’s comedic background, the film is not anticipated to be a comedy. Reports indicate it will emphasize suspense and action, with the narrative set in a town called Springfield that is secretly controlled by Cobra. McBride has directed the pilot of ‘The Righteous Gemstones’ and episodes of ‘Vice Principals’, but this will be his first action tentpole, having also co-written and produced the ‘Halloween’ trilogy.

There are still many unknowns. Paramount has yet to announce a release date, although McBride has stated that the team aims to begin filming in 2027. Producers include Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Mark Vahradian, and Zev Foreman from Hasbro Entertainment.

With Cooper confirmed as Duke, the next step is to cast the remaining Joes and Cobra villains. If the studio can assemble a strong ensemble around him, this reboot could finally revitalize the ‘G.I. Joe’ franchise.

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