Chris Hemsworth Reportedly Exits G.I. JOE Reboot as Bradley Cooper Emerges as New Frontrunner
It looks like the upcoming G.I. Joe movie might be going through a major casting shake-up. Not long ago, fans learned that Danny McBride had successfully pitched a new take on the iconic Hasbro franchise to Paramount.
There were then reports claiming Chris Hemsworth was attached to star in the film. Now, it sounds like those plans have changed.
According to Nexus Point News, Hemsworth has reportedly exited the project. There’s currently no word on why he stepped away, but the report also offers an interesting update. Paramount is now said to be eyeing Bradley Cooper to take over the lead role.
If that casting comes together, Cooper would most likely be playing Duke, the legendary leader of the Joes.
For a while, very little was known about McBride's vision for the movie beyond the fact that he developed the original pitch. But, he recently shared some fresh details, and it sounds like this movie is aiming for something fans might not expect.
Rather than leaning into parody or comedy, McBride says the film is taking the franchise seriously while still embracing the fun action that made G.I. Joe such a fan favorite.
“Weirdly, it grounds G.I. Joe; it’s not a comedy. It’s kind of suspense and action, and I think it’s going to be a lot of fun,” McBride said. “You’re following Duke and a group of other Joes… There’s that town in the comic, Springfield, which is a town that’s secretly all Cobra, and so that is where our film takes place.”
In the classic animated series, Springfield looked like an ordinary American town on the surface, but underneath, it was completely controlled by Cobra. Every resident was secretly working for the terrorist organization, turning the town into one giant hidden stronghold.
The location played a memorable role in the two-part episode “There's No Place Like Springfield”, where Shipwreck was held captive after losing his memory. Believing everything around him was normal, he slowly uncovered the disturbing truth that the town, and nearly everyone in it, was part of Cobra's elaborate operation.
McBride's comments suggest the movie will pull inspiration from that storyline while centering everything around Duke and his team as they find themselves trapped in one of Cobra's most dangerous strongholds.
It also sounds like this version of Duke will draw more from the comic book interpretation than the cartoon. The character has become one of the standout heroes in Skybound's Energon Universe, where he's portrayed as a grounded military leader trying to make sense of increasingly bizarre threats.
While the larger G.I.Joe mythology still embraces its larger-than-life concepts, Duke remains one of its most relatable characters.
If Cooper does ultimately sign on, he'd bring plenty of dramatic weight and charisma to a role that demands both leadership and vulnerability.
After years of playing Rocket in the Guardians of the Galaxy films, it would also be fun to see another Marvel Cinematic Universe star step into what could become the face of Paramount's next G.I. Joe adventure.
For now, nothing has been officially confirmed regarding Cooper's involvement, but if Hemsworth has indeed departed, this would be a pretty compelling replacement.
Cooper has the screen presence to anchor a franchise, and McBride's grounded, suspense-driven approach to G.I. Joe is sounding more interesting every time new details emerge.
Hopefully, we'll get official casting news sooner rather than later. Until then, this reboot remains one of the more intriguing franchise projects currently in development.