MOVIE NEWS – Paramount Pictures and Hasbro are not moving forward with a take on a new G.I. Joe movie from screenwriter Max Landis, multiple sources told Variety. Landis, son of Trading Places director John Landis, was engaged by the studio and the toymaker earlier this year for a script treatment surrounding the iconic action figures. Paramount passed on Landis’ treatment for creative reasons.

New film leadership at Paramount is prioritizing the relaunch of this IP and others, including Star Trek. The studio is still in talks with and awaiting scripts from other writers, including The Righteous Gemstones star Danny McBride. Reached via Instagram, Landis told Variety he was “tremendously grateful to have been given the opportunity.” He elaborated that his pitch came together “very serendipitously based on the coolness of the weird and subversive idea.” That idea centered around the film franchise’s villain, Cobra, “having successfully taken over the world and reduced G.I. Joe to a conspiracy theory.” Landis added: “This is just how big IP development always is. Honestly, I was surprised it was reported at all.”

Paramount did not respond to a request for comment. Landis is a screenwriter who was accused of sexual misconduct during the height of the #MeToo movement. In 2019, numerous women came forward and spoke about Landis’ alleged behavior, accusing him of sexual and emotional abuse. Following a 2019 exposé by The Daily Beast, he was dropped by his representatives at CAA and Writ Large, and projects he had in the works died. No charges were filed against Landis. Three years ago, Landis addressed what he called serious mistakes in relationships and described himself as a toxic partner to his girlfriends. However, one Deadline source made it clear that the studio’s decision had nothing to do with Landis’ past: “The studio didn’t commit to the project due to its satirical artistic tone, it had nothing to do with Landis’ past.”

Of the three live-action G.I. Joe films released to date, 2009’s G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra earned $302 million, 2013’s G.I. Joe: Retaliation made over $373 million worldwide, and 2021’s Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins earned just $110 million. Transformers producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura is also the producer on the G.I. Joe movies. The G.I. Joe IP has gone through a resurgence in recent years with publisher Skybound breathing new life into the comic books with a run overseen by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman.

Source: MovieWeb