Danny McBride to Direct New G.I. Joe Film at Paramount, After Writing Assignment

The comedian and filmmaker is set to make his directorial debut on a new feature based on Hasbro’s military action franchise.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

Paramount is moving forward on a new G.I. Joe movie based on Hasbro’s toy and entertainment brand, with Danny McBride tapped to direct the next installment, according to a report published July 15, 2026 by Deadline.

McBride was initially recruited to write the film as part of the project’s development. Deadline reports that he is now set to make his directorial debut on the Paramount production, shifting from writer to director as the studio develops the movie further.

Details of the plot are being kept under wraps at this time, Deadline said, with sources indicating the project is viewed as a high-priority studio effort. No release date, cast, or production start timeline was included in the report.

The announcement comes as Paramount continues to develop live-action adaptations and expansions of well-known franchise properties tied to established toy lines and earlier entertainment catalogs. G.I. Joe has previously been adapted for film and has remained one of Hasbro’s most durable brands.

In addition to his directing work on this new feature, McBride’s involvement reflects his broader role in genre and franchise filmmaking, where studios often rely on writer-directors or writer-led teams to shape tone, dialogue, and the action framework from early development.

A spokesman or official studio statement beyond the Deadline report was not provided in the information reviewed for this article, and the report did not identify specific story elements or characters that will appear in the new film.

The next steps for the project will likely involve formalizing McBride’s directing role, advancing the script toward production, and confirming key creative and casting decisions once Paramount and the producing team finalize their development plans.

Until additional information is released by Paramount or the production team, the central confirmed facts remain McBride’s directorial assignment and that the company is pursuing a new G.I. Joe feature under development at the studio.

Why It Matters

A writer-to-director transition can change how a studio manages tone and narrative choices early in development, affecting later decisions on casting and production planning.
As a high-priority project, the G.I. Joe film could receive sustained attention from Paramount as it advances through development milestones.
Because plot and casting have not been disclosed, public and industry expectations may hinge on subsequent official announcements from the studio or production team.
For audiences, the project indicates continued efforts to refresh established toy-based franchises into new feature-film formats under major studio distribution.

Sources

Key Facts

Paramount is developing a new G.I. Joe movie based on Hasbro’s franchise.
Danny McBride was previously tapped to pen the next G.I. Joe film, and is now set to direct.
The film’s plot details are being kept under wraps, and no specific story elements were reported.
Deadline describes the project as a high priority at the studio based on sources.
The report did not provide a release date, cast, or production schedule.