For decades, G.I. Joe action figures have been a classic symbol of military play. The popular 1980s relaunch of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero made the figures smaller and sparked a new wave of success, establishing the look and feel that defines the brand today. Now, a company is planning a comeback for G.I. Joe, but some worry their approach isn’t quite right.
Paramount is working on a new G.I. Joe movie, but the writers they’ve chosen seem like an unusual fit for the franchise. The studio wants this reboot to succeed where past films have failed, but releasing it in theaters might not be the best strategy, considering other available options. The recent success of a shared comic book universe created by Hasbro and Skybound suggests that G.I. Joe’s future lies with streaming and other platforms, not just traditional movie theaters.
The Newest G.I. Joe Movie Might Already Be Doomed
The G.I. Joe movies haven’t done well critically or financially. While other action franchises have faced similar criticism, at least those films made money. The G.I. Joe movies haven’t even managed that.
The Snake Eyes movie was the biggest disappointment, failing to boost the G.I. Joe franchise and instead contributing to its continued struggles. G.I. Joe has often been seen as a brand that relies heavily on 1980s nostalgia and its connection to Transformers to stay relevant. However, despite its challenges, G.I. Joe still has a dedicated fanbase, which is why Paramount is attempting a reboot with Real American Heroes.
Paramount is exploring two different approaches to rebooting G.I. Joe. One is being developed by a writer known for comedies like the TV show Eastbound & Down, who also wrote and produced .
McBride’s creative approach doesn’t immediately seem like a good fit for the brand, and he’d likely emphasize the more over-the-top and humorous elements of the 1980s G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero cartoon. However, the franchise generally aims for a more serious tone, particularly in the Marvel comics from that time period.
I’ve always been a fan of Landis’s understanding of what makes geek culture tick, but I have to admit, I’m really worried about his involvement in this new project. The allegations against him back in 2017 led to his being ostracized from Hollywood, and honestly, bringing him in now feels like a huge risk. It’s disappointing to see Paramount put a potentially tarnished figure in charge of something that could be so important – it doesn’t fill me with confidence at all, and I fear it will ultimately drag the project down.
Both of these potential scripts could succeed, but with past G.I. Joe movies being hit or miss, it’s a bit of a risk. Because of this, a strong return to television might be the best path forward for the franchise.
G.I. Joe Can Be a Big-Time Streaming Hit
Considering how well G.I. Joe has done on television – far beyond just toys and comics – a TV show seems like the most natural next step. An animated series would be the simplest way to make it happen.
An animated series featuring characters from Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Void Rivals is currently in production. Because the animation will cover that territory, it would be smart for the franchise to create a separate, live-action TV series. This could be a huge draw for a specific streaming platform.
Paramount owns the rights to make movies based on G.I. Joe, and they also operate the Paramount+ streaming service. While Paramount+ has some popular shows, like the Yellowstone series (which is also available elsewhere), it doesn’t have a truly dominant franchise to attract a large audience like some other streaming platforms.
Although it remains a well-known name, recent installments have hurt the brand’s reputation with fans, and it’s unlikely to single-handedly make Paramount+ a major success. G.I. Joe, however, could be a great solution, particularly if it focuses on appealing to an older, more mature audience.
Yellowstone is part of a growing trend of interconnected TV shows popular on streaming services. Amazon Prime Video has had similar success with action-packed series, and both Yellowstone and these Amazon shows often focus on military or former military personnel involved in action and espionage. This has led to them being playfully called “dad shows,” as they’re often seen as the kind of thrillers that appeal to married fathers.
Interestingly, a successful reboot of G.I. Joe could follow a similar path. If it was a little more family-friendly, it could attract a wide audience, much like the Marvel Cinematic Universe did initially. While some might view a connected streaming universe for the franchise as a way to simply make more money, the brand has already proven this approach can work with its recent successes.
The Energon Universe Can Inspire Another G.I. Joe Adaptation
The Energon Universe comics are being adapted separately, and could potentially lead to a new wave of streaming content for G.I. Joe. Before the main G.I. Joe comic series begins (which isn’t connected to the existing G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero that continues the original story by Larry Hama), four smaller comic series were released. These set the stage for the main series and were inspired by events from Transformers.
The first short series focused on characters like Duke, Scarlett, Destro, and Cobra Commander, reimagining classic G.I. Joe ideas and personalities for a modern audience. This approach could be a great fit for Paramount+, potentially creating a unique and interconnected live-action universe.
Before a full G.I. Joe series arrives on Paramount+, the studio might release a set of smaller stories – like limited series or movies – to build up the world, similar to what’s being done with the Energon Universe. The key is to make each of these stories feel unique in terms of style and scale, while still connecting them to the bigger picture, so the franchise doesn’t become repetitive or stale.
A fun, action-packed movie centered around the Dreadnoks could offer a darker take on the G.I. Joe universe. Alternatively, a prequel showing Duke and Hawk as young soldiers could be a gritty, realistic war story. And a series about Tomax and Xamot could be a suspenseful psychological thriller, similar to how they were portrayed as cult leaders in G.I. Joe: Renegades.
A limited series focused on Snake Eyes could really highlight his ninja skills and martial arts expertise. A Destro series could be a political drama in the style of House of Cards or Succession, focusing on military power plays. These could then build towards a Cobra series, with a longer-running G.I. Joe show as the main event – a multi-season story about the heroes fighting against Cobra’s global domination plans.
The main G.I. Joe series could continue its battle against Cobra, and spin-offs could draw from past variations like the “Drug Elimination Force” or the G.I. Joe Extreme relaunch from the 1990s. Ideally, this would all be available on a single streaming service, avoiding the issues caused by separate movies and Disney+ shows in recent years.
A new series based on this concept would be a huge draw for Paramount+, and it could successfully revive the G.I. Joe franchise without relying on silly or misguided nostalgia. However, its future depends on what happens with Paramount, particularly with their potential acquisition of Warner Bros.
Whether or not a new movie happens, G.I. Joe needs to find a fresh direction, and surprisingly, an action-filled streaming series geared towards adults could be the key to getting a new generation excited and yelling “Yo, Joe!”
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2026-03-05 17:09