Bradley Cooper to Star as Duke in Paramount's 'G.I. Joe' Reboot

Bradley Cooper will star as field commander Duke in Paramount's "G.I. Joe" movie, with Danny McBride directing, the studio has confirmed.

The casting pairs a 12-time Oscar nominee with a first-time action director. McBride wrote the screenplay with Jeff Fradley and John Carcieri. Plot details and further casting remain under wraps, but Paramount promises the film will deliver a fresh take on the iconic Hasbro toy line.

What has changed about the franchise?

Paramount confirmed that "G.I. Joe" has been "uncoupled" from the "Transformers" franchise. That crossover was teased at the end of 2023's "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts."

The separation signals a reset for both Hasbro properties at the studio. Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Mark Vahradian and Zev Foreman produce for Hasbro Entertainment.

Who is Danny McBride as director?

"G.I. Joe" marks McBride's first major directing effort. He previously helmed the pilot of the HBO comedy series "The Righteous Gemstones" and a few episodes of "Vice Principals," but never a major action tentpole like "G.I. Joe" is shaping up to be.

The jump from cable comedy to a franchise-scale action film makes McBride the gamble at the heart of the project. Cooper's star power gives the reboot its marquee name.

Cooper is best known for roles in "A Star Is Born," "Silver Linings Playbook" and "American Sniper." He is currently in production on an "Ocean's 11" prequel, which he is directing and starring in alongside Margot Robbie and Monica Barbaro.

Where does this fit in Paramount's slate?

Paramount Pictures co-chairs Josh Greenstein and Dana Goldberg have several major IP plays in the works beyond "G.I. Joe":

• A "Days of Thunder" sequel starring Tom Cruise and Anne Hathaway, which Variety exclusively revealed
• A "World War Z" sequel
• A new "Paranormal Activity" film with James Wan
• A new "Star Trek" project
• "Sonic the Hedgehog 4"
• A "Call of Duty" movie

The "G.I. Joe" reboot now joins that roster as Hasbro Entertainment and Paramount bet that a prestige-level leading man and an unconventional director can revive a toy line whose last big-screen outings carried mixed fortunes. Whether McBride's comedy-driven sensibility translates to action spectacle will define the film when it reaches theaters.