Bradley Cooper is officially joining the G.I. Joe universe, with the Oscar-nominated actor set to portray the iconic military leader Duke in a new live-action film directed by Danny McBride. The upcoming project will introduce a fresh take on the Hasbro franchise as Paramount Pictures prepares to bring the popular action property back to the big screen.
McBride, best known for creating and starring in HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones, will make his feature directorial debut with the film. He has also co-written the screenplay alongside Jeff Fradley and John Carcieri, with the trio previously collaborating on the hit HBO comedy series.
Cooper’s casting marks a significant development for the project, which will see him take on the role of Conrad Hauser, better known as Duke, the field commander and leader of the G.I. Joe team. The character was previously portrayed by Channing Tatum in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) and its 2013 sequel, G.I. Joe: Retaliation.
The new film is expected to serve as a reboot of the live-action franchise, offering audiences a different interpretation of the beloved characters. Although further plot details remain under wraps, McBride has previously revealed that the story will follow Duke and a group of fellow Joes as they operate in Springfield, a seemingly ordinary town secretly controlled by the villainous Cobra organisation.
McBride has also indicated that the film will take a different approach from his previous comedic work, describing the project as a suspenseful action adventure rather than a comedy. The filmmaker’s enthusiasm for the franchise is well established, having been a longtime fan of the original toys, comics and animated series.
The announcement also confirms that the new G.I. Joe film will move forward independently of the previously discussed Transformers crossover. The potential collaboration between the two franchises was teased in the closing moments of 2023’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, but that project is no longer moving forward.
For Cooper, the film adds another major production to an increasingly busy schedule. The actor is currently working on an Ocean’s Eleven prequel, which he is directing and starring in alongside Margot Robbie. The film, set in the 1960s, is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on June 25, 2027.
Cooper and McBride have previously worked together, with Cooper making a guest appearance in The Righteous Gemstones. Their reunion on G.I. Joe now brings together two talents from different corners of Hollywood for a major action franchise.
The original live-action G.I. Joe films began with The Rise of Cobra in 2009, followed by Retaliation in 2013. Henry Golding subsequently took on the role of Snake Eyes in the 2021 spin-off Snake Eyes, which explored the origins of the popular ninja character.
With Cooper now attached to lead the latest instalment, the franchise is preparing for another cinematic reinvention. Additional casting announcements and a release date have yet to be revealed.
