News · 2026-07-14
Danny McBride's G.I. Joe Movie is Done—'It's Not a Comedy,' Shooting Starts Next Year
Danny McBride has completed the screenplay for Paramount’s next G.I. Joe film, and the filmmaker’s childhood obsession with the franchise is plainly evident in the script.
“It’s not a comedy. It’s kind of suspense and action,” McBride said of the finished script, co-written with his longtime Righteous Gemstones collaborators Jeff Fradley and John Carcieri. “I’m stoked about it.”
The Plot: A Town Called Springfield
The film follows Duke and a squad of elite Joes as they face off against Cobra in an unexpected setting: Springfield, a seemingly ordinary American town that is secretly controlled entirely by Cobra forces. This deep cut from the Larry Hama comics mythos gives the story a grounded, infiltration-focused narrative rather than the over-the-top spectacle of previous adaptations.
McBride has confirmed that Paramount could have cameras rolling as soon as next year, signaling the studio’s commitment to getting the film into production quickly. Casting discussions are already heating up with interest from “some pretty interesting people,” according to McBride.
A G.I. Joe Fan at Heart
McBride’s passion for the source material runs deep. G.I. Joe was his childhood obsession, surpassing even Star Wars in his estimation. He still maintains his entire original figure collection, a testament to decades-long fandom that informs every page of the new script.
The tone he’s targeting—grounded, suspenseful, action-driven—suggests Paramount is betting on a streamlined, character-focused take rather than the comedic or blockbuster-spectacle approaches that defined 2009’s G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and 2013’s G.I. Joe: Retaliation.
What’s Next
With a finished script and pre-production heating up, the next phase is casting. The film represents a fresh start for the G.I. Joe movie franchise at a major studio, backed by filmmakers who understand the IP from the ground up.
Sources
- Gizmodo: Danny McBride Is Really Excited About His ‘G.I. Joe’ Script
- SuperHeroHype: Danny McBride’s G.I. Joe Movie Reveals Plot Details, Setting, and More
- Collider: New ‘G.I. Joe’ Movie Filming Plans Officially Confirmed by Writer
- Cosmic Book News: Danny McBride Confirms G.I. Joe Movie—‘It’s Not A Comedy’
★ DISCUSSION
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