BRADLEY COOPER CAST AS DUKE IN PARAMOUNT'S NEW G.I. JOE MOVIE — DANNY MCBRIDE TO DIRECT

Bradley Cooper will play Duke in Paramount's new G.I. Joe movie, with Danny McBride directing and co-writing — the franchise reimagining was announced October 1, 2026, with Cooper taking over the field-commander role previously played by Channing Tatum.

The Announcement

Deadline first reported the casting on October 1, 2026, with Paramount confirming the new film. The news was corroborated the same day by USA Today, The Wrap, People, Just Jared, MovieWeb and The Hollywood Reporter. McBride is directing and co-writing the film alongside Jeff Fradley and John Carcieri, his collaborators on HBO's The Righteous Gemstones. Producing are Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Mark Vahradian and Zev Foreman for Hasbro Entertainment.

Why Cooper

Cooper is a reported 12-time Oscar nominee, according to USA Today. He is currently filming the Ocean's Eleven prequel, and he previously guest-starred on McBride's The Righteous Gemstones. For more latest Hollywood casting news, see our report on Tom Cruise's Digger hitting theaters.

What the Movie Will Be

The new film is a reimagining and is not connected to the earlier G.I. Joe movies. The Transformers crossover teased in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023) is no longer in development, according to reports. The story will follow Duke and the Joes in Springfield — a town secretly populated entirely by Cobra, a storyline drawn from the 1980s comics. According to McBride's Happy Sad Confused podcast appearance, reported by The Wrap and MovieWeb, the film will be grounded action — not a comedy.

Franchise Context

Paramount's previous G.I. Joe outings include G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009), which earned $302 million worldwide; G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013), which earned $376 million; and Snake Eyes (2021), which grossed roughly $40 million. No release date has been confirmed for the new film — industry observers expect 2028.

Official Paramount Pictures franchise video — no trailer exists yet for the new film.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Bradley Cooper playing in G.I. Joe?

Duke, the field commander of the Joes, previously played by Channing Tatum in the 2009 and 2013 films.

Who is directing the new G.I. Joe movie?

Danny McBride, who is also co-writing with Jeff Fradley and John Carcieri.

Is it connected to the earlier G.I. Joe movies?

No — it is a reimagining, and the planned Transformers crossover is no longer in development.

When does the G.I. Joe reboot release?

No date is confirmed; industry observers expect 2028.