In a move that's already sparking industry-wide debate, Paramount Pictures has quietly hired Max Landis to pen a new G.I. Joe screenplay - marking the controversial writer's first major studio assignment since multiple women accused him of emotional and psychological abuse in 2019.
Landis, who hasn't had a produced studio film since 2015's Mr. Right, broke his silence on the news through a cryptic Instagram Story showing Oscar Isaac's Star Wars character saying "Somehow..." - a meme format that perfectly captures Hollywood's collective reaction to his unexpected return.
Henry Golding in 'Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins'. The 2021 film flopped with $40M globally against $88M budget - now Paramount bets on Landis to revive the franchise.
Paramount Pictures
The son of Animal House director John Landis, Max was once Hollywood's golden boy with Chronicle (2012) and a string of 2015 releases. But his career collapsed after eight women detailed patterns of manipulation and abuse. In a 2020 interview, Landis gave a non-apology that infuriated many: "I never apologized or denied because some of it is true, and the parts that aren't true don't deserve apologies."
While maintaining a YouTube channel and producing fan films during his exile, Landis now gets a second chance with one of Paramount's most valuable franchises. The timing couldn't be more provocative - just as Hollywood claims to be cleaning house post-#MeToo.
Dwayne Johnson in 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation'. The franchise needs fresh blood after recent struggles.
Paramount Movies/YouTube
Landis hinted at his ambitious vision for the franchise: "I think it's really cool that there are other planets out there with Transformers... taking this war and battle somewhere else." This suggests a potential Transformers crossover or cosmic expansion of the G.I. Joe universe.
The real story here isn't just about G.I. Joe - it's about Hollywood's memory, forgiveness, and whether talent truly outweighs controversy. As one industry insider told us anonymously: "Either this is Paramount's biggest gamble or their most tone-deaf decision in years."
