Bradley Cooper is taking over Channing Tatum’s G.I. Joe role in Danny McBride’s reboot
Danny McBride’s G.I. Joe reboot has found its Duke — and it’s a multiple Oscar nominee stepping into the leader’s boots.
Every few years, someone at Paramount Pictures dusts off the old toy box and tries—once again—to mainline G.I. Joe nostalgia into the cinemas. After a fair few fumbles, most recently that Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins shambles, and a string of aborted pitches, the studio is finally ploughing ahead with a full reboot. And, for once, there might be a reason to pay attention: Danny McBride is not only writing but stepping up as director, and somehow they've roped in a rather hefty bit of casting muscle.
The new G.I. Joe film will have Bradley Cooper leading the charge as Duke—yes, really. If you’re trying to make this franchise land, that’s not a daft place to start.
Bradley Cooper steps into the role of Duke for the upcoming G.I. Joe reboot, taking on the part after a one-on-one with Danny McBride convinced him to make time in his famously stacked schedule.
How We Got Here
Let’s not pretend this is Hollywood’s first attempt to restart the property. Since the toy line’s big 1980s relaunch, Duke—government codename for Conrad S. Hauser—has been the G.I. Joe universe’s straight-arrow poster boy. He was nearly killed off in the animated movie, but, in one of those classic 'oh, the kids will cry' backtracks, they bottled it at the last minute after seeing the reaction to Optimus Prime’s demise in Transformers.
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Live-action has been a mixed bag: Channing Tatum’s take on Duke headlined G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra in 2009 and showed up again (very briefly) in the 2013 sequel. Then came the not-quite-a-reboot Snake Eyes, which flatlined before it started. There’s even been a pitch from Max Landis floating about, and a cheeky mention at the end of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts promising some shared universe mischief, but actual forward movement has been rare.
Cooper, McBride, and a New Direction
This time, they’re banking on McBride—better known for subversive comedies than blockbusters, but still, never say never. He’s plotted out a story where the Joes uncover Cobra operatives who’ve pulled a Hot Fuzz and nested themselves inside a quietly corrupt small-town America: Springfield, naturally. McBride dropped a few hints that it’ll be less about shooting up missiles and more of a tense infiltration gig—at least, to start.
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Bradley Cooper’s signing wasn’t quite a done deal at first. With his own directorial work—he’s currently juggling a new Oceans prequel with Margot Robbie—plus his status as an actor-director (think A Star Is Born, Maestro, and the upcoming Is This Thing On?), you’d think he’d be too busy. But apparently Cooper met with McBride, read the script, and agreed to pick up the Duke mantle.
Cooper previously cameoed in McBride’s series The Righteous Gemstones as a Civil War ancestor—a bit of trivia only the most hopeless TV trainspotters will remember.
What’s Next?
With Cooper confirmed, Paramount seem keen to build a cast to match, especially with the G.I. Joe gang’s deep bench of oddballs—Snake Eyes, Scarlett, Lady Jaye, you know the drill. The really spicy bit of casting may end up being who plays Cobra Commander, still the franchise’s most notorious villain. For now, though, Cooper’s Duke is in the bag, and the Joe reboot is properly back on the map.
The casting of Bradley Cooper signals that Paramount are genuinely throwing weight behind their latest G.I. Joe relaunch.