Paramount Passes on Max Landis’ G.I. JOE Movie Treatment
Paramount Pictures and Hasbro are continuing their search for the right creative direction for the G.I. Joe franchise, and one high-profile pitch is officially off the table.
A new report reveals that the studio has decided not to move forward with a film treatment from screenwriter Max Landis, who had recently been developing a concept for the iconic toy-based action series.
According to multiple sources who spoke with Variety, Paramount opted to pass on Landis’ take for creative reasons. The studio is still actively exploring new ideas for the franchise as it works to relaunch several major properties under its current leadership.
Landis, the son of John Landis, had been brought in earlier this year to develop a treatment for a potential new G.I. Joe film. The project was one of several legacy brands the studio is hoping to reinvigorate alongside franchises like Star Trek.
While Landis’ concept ultimately didn’t move forward, he shared details about his pitch and his experience working on it. Reached through Instagram, Landis said he was “tremendously grateful to have been given the opportunity.”
He also explained the core idea behind his approach to the property, saying the concept came together “very serendipitously based on the coolness of the weird and subversive idea.”
The story would have taken a very different direction from past G.I. Joe films. As he described it, the premise involved the franchise’s infamous villain Cobra “having successfully taken over the world and reduced GI Joe to a conspiracy theory. But this is just how big IP development always is. Honestly, I was surprised it was reported at all.”
Seems like that would be the wrong approach to the franchise, anyway.
Even though the pitch isn’t moving forward, the studio hasn’t closed the door on new writers. Paramount is still in talks with several creatives and is waiting on scripts from other talent, including The Righteous Gemstones star Danny McBride.
The news surrounding Landis’ involvement drew attention partly because of his controversial history in Hollywood. In 2016, eight women accused the writer of sexual assault and other misconduct. The allegations led to a swift collapse of several projects tied to Landis, and he was dropped by his agency, CAA, while studios halted development on multiple films.
Considering that history, the studio’s decision to move in a different direction may ultimately be the safest move for a major franchise reboot. Launching a new era of G.I. Joe already comes with plenty of pressure, and attaching the brand to a polarizing figure like Landis could have created unnecessary complications for a project that needs a clean start.
Paramount also has its share of issues to navigate internally. The company recently agreed to distribute a new Rush Hour movie tied to director Brett Ratner, who faced accusations of sexual harassment and assault during the #MeToo movement.
At the same time, Paramount president Jeff Shell is currently under investigation over allegations that he leaked privileged information to an outside party involved in a $150 million lawsuit.
With that backdrop, choosing a different creative path for G.I. Joe might simply be the most practical decision. The franchise still has plenty of potential if the right team can crack the story.
For now, the hunt for the next G.I. Joe movie continues. Fans will just have to wait and see which writer ultimately gets the call to bring the Joes back into action.
Source: Variety