Duke Cast for Danny McBride’s GI Joe Reboot

Danny McBride is diving into a G.I. Joe movie reboot, and he’s secured the film’s leading man. Bradley Cooper is set to take on the role of Duke, a key figure among the G.I. Joes, as confirmed in a recent announcement.

Earlier this year, there were whispers about Cooper being in the running for the part, and now it’s official. He steps into the shoes of Duke, a character previously portrayed by Channing Tatum in the first two G.I. Joe films, where Tatum’s version was introduced as a newcomer to the team.

In 2026, Paramount considered pitches for two different G.I. Joe films. One of these came from Max Landis, who faced serious allegations of sexual and emotional abuse during the #MeToo movement. Although no charges were filed, his career took a hit, leading Paramount to pass on his treatment back in March.

Details about the plot remain under wraps for now. McBride’s reboot aims to refresh the franchise without any connections to the previously planned Transformers crossover that never came to fruition.

In July, McBride shared insights about his vision for the film on a podcast. Interestingly, despite his comedic background, this project won’t be a comedy. “It’s kind of suspense and action, and I think it’s going to be a lot of fun… You’re following Duke and a group of other Joes… There’s that town in the comic, Springfield, which is secretly all Cobra, and so that is where our film takes place,” he explained.

As McBride and Paramount have just begun the casting process, the film is likely still a few years away. This project continues Hollywood’s trend of transforming toy franchises into feature films, following in the footsteps of titles like Barbie, Masters of the Universe, and the upcoming Matchbox: The Movie, set to release on October 9.

He’s bringing a sword to a gunfight, and that’s badass.