Paramount Pictures is exploring a revival of its ‘G.I. Joe’ franchise, bringing in Max Landis and Danny McBride to develop separate scripts inspired by the Hasbro toy line. Both projects remain in early development, with the studio expected to make further decisions after reviewing the completed screenplays.

If the project moves forward, it would represent a significant studio return for Landis. Once regarded as a rising talent for writing ‘Chronicle’ and ‘American Ultra,’ his career faltered amid allegations of sexual and emotional abuse during the the #MeToo movement. Landis — the son of filmmaker John Landis — was dropped by his representatives following the accusations, though no criminal charges were filed.

McBride, meanwhile, has built a strong reputation in both television and film. He co-created and starred in HBO comedies such as ‘Eastbound & Down,’ ‘Vice Principals,’ and ‘The Righteous Gemstones.’ On the big screen, he has appeared in hits like ‘Tropic Thunder,’ ‘Pineapple Express,’ and ‘This Is the End.’ He also voices characters in Paramount’s ‘The Angry Birds Movie’ franchise. As a writer, McBride helped relaunch the ‘Halloween’ series alongside director David Gordon Green and collaborator Jeff Fradley. However, their attempt to reboot ‘The Exorcist’ did not achieve similar success.

To date, Paramount has released three ‘G.I. Joe’ films. ‘G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra,’ starring Channing Tatum, and its sequel, ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation,’ featuring Bruce Willis and Dwayne Johnson, were major global hits, earning a combined $678 million worldwide. In contrast, the 2021 origin story ‘Snake Eyes,’ led by Henry Golding, struggled at the post-pandemic box office and grossed just $40 million globally.

News of the potential reboot comes as the studio, owned by David Ellison, reviews its major intellectual property for new installments. This includes two of its most valuable franchises: ‘Transformers’ and ‘Star Trek.’

Other upcoming franchise entries from the studio include ‘Scream 7,’ currently in theaters; ‘Scary Movie 6,’ slated for release in June; and ‘Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie,’ arriving in July.

Looking ahead to 2027, new installments are planned for ‘Sonic the Hedgehog,’ ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,’ and ‘The Angry Birds Movie.’

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