Danny McBride Set to Direct Paramount's New G.I. JOE Movie

Danny McBride is set to direct Paramount Pictures' upcoming G.I. JOE movie, according to a report from Movieguide.

He will helm the currently untitled feature. He co-wrote the script with his Righteous Gemstones collaborators Jeff Fradley and John Carcieri. On the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast, McBride expressed his enthusiasm for the project. "I'm stoked about it. I'm really fired up about the script.

What is the movie's setting?

McBride revealed a key story detail, confirming the film will take place in "Springfield, which is a town that's secretly all COBRA." As noted in the report, COBRA is the terrorist organization and nemesis of the G.I. Joes.

Why is McBride the right fit?

The project is a personal passion for McBride, rooted in his childhood. "It was definitely the cartoons and the comics. G.I. Joe was my thing when I was a kid," he said on the podcast. "I liked that more than Star Wars, more than anything." He added that he still owns his original action figure collection.

While casting details remain under wraps, McBride hinted at promising prospects. "We have some pretty interesting people lining up to be in it, too. I don't want to get ahead of myself, but it looks like it's going to be pretty fun."

The G.I. JOE reboot is a development priority for Paramount under new owner David Ellison, as the studio focuses on major intellectual property brands.