Paramount is shaking things up with its famous franchise, G.I. Joe. In an interesting twist, the studio has brought in Max Landis, a screenwriter who faced serious allegations during the #MeToo movement, to draft a treatment for a new movie based on the Hasbro toy line.
At the same time, they’ve also enlisted Danny McBride, known for his work on The Righteous Gemstones, to write a separate script for G.I. Joe. Sources indicate these are two distinct projects, yet there’s a possibility of merging elements from both into one film.
Lorenzo di Bonaventura, who has produced the previous G.I. Joe films, is at the helm of this new effort. Crafting multiple scripts simultaneously isn’t typical, but studios often do it when focusing on popular franchises. For instance, in the mid-2000s, Warner Bros. had writers develop different takes on a reboot for Tarzan. Similarly, Universal worked on multiple scripts for a reboot of The Mummy.
Max Landis isn’t a stranger to the spotlight. He’s the son of John Landis, a prominent director in the ’80s. Max made waves with his 2012 film Chronicle, which was a hit among viewers. He also wrote the Netflix film Bright, featuring Will Smith, which marked an early success for the streaming giant.
Despite his talent, Landis’s career took a major hit in 2019 due to allegations of sexual and emotional abuse. A report by The Daily Beast led to a loss of representation and halted projects he was working on. While no charges were filed, he later admitted to having made “serious mistakes” in relationships in a YouTube video, where he reflected on being a “toxic partner.” This has sparked a wide social media discussion about his potential return to Hollywood.
On the other hand, Danny McBride is well-loved for his offbeat humor. He helped create several successful HBO shows and is also known for his work on the revived Halloween series, although his most recent film, The Exorcist: Believer, struggled at the box office.
Paramount, under the leadership of David Ellison, has a history of choosing controversial figures for its projects. This includes hiring John Lasseter, the former Pixar head, after he admitted to mistakes that made employees uncomfortable. The studio also recently made moves related to disgraced director Brett Ratner, known for past allegations of misconduct.
As Paramount navigates these waters, they’re not just reviving a franchise; they’re also raising eyebrows in Hollywood. Both Landis and McBride’s involvement in G.I. Joe illustrates a shift in how studios are approaching talent—embracing narratives of redemption in a landscape that’s shifting towards accountability.
For more insights on Hollywood’s changing dynamics and the impact of such decisions, you can explore the Hollywood Reporter.
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G.I. Joe,Max Landis
