Paramount Pictures and Hasbro are not moving forward with the new GI Joe movie from screenwriter Max Landis, multiple sources tell Variety.
Landis, the son of “Trading Places” director John Landis, worked on a script between the studio and the toymaker earlier this year for the iconic action figure. Paramount’s new film leader is prioritizing re-releases of this IP and other IPs, including “Star Trek.”
A source said Paramount held off on Landis for creative reasons. The studio is still in talks with other writers, including The Righteous Gemstones star Danny McBride, and is awaiting scripts.
Landis told Variety on Instagram, “I’m so grateful for the opportunity.” He elaborated that his proposal came together “very serendipitously based on the coolness of a weird, subversive idea.” The idea centers around Cobra, the villain of the film series, who “successfully conquered the world and reduced GI Joe to a conspiracy theory. But this is how big an IP development has always been. To be honest, I was surprised that it got press.”
Paramount Pictures did not respond to a request for comment. A Hasbro representative could not be reached for comment.
News that Landis would be joining the project made headlines after his career plummeted in 2016 following allegations of sexual assault and other misconduct from eight women. At the time, Landis was removed from agency CAA and several development projects at the studio were canceled.
It’s one less headache for David Ellison’s media empire. Last year, the studio came on board as the distributor for the new “Rush Hour” movie from Hollywood pariah Brett Ratner, who himself has been accused of sexual harassment and assault in the #MeToo movement. Not to mention his ongoing drama with Paramount president Jeff Shell, who is currently under investigation for allegedly leaking confidential information to outside parties, and some are suing him for $150 million.
