The G.I. Joe franchise is on the move in Hollywood again, and it has done so with a casting choice that has caught the attention of superhero fans. Bradley Cooper, known for voicing Rocket Raccoon in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has been chosen to play Duke in the new reboot of the military saga, directed by Danny McBride.
The announcement is particularly relevant as the franchise seeks to reinvent itself after several previous attempts on the big screen, each with a different lead and mixed box office results. The arrival of an actor with Cooper's profile, who also has experience in war films, raises expectations about the direction this new version will take.
Bradley Cooper to headline the reboot as Duke
According to Deadline, Bradley Cooper was among Danny McBride's top choices to play Conrad Hauser, better known as Duke, one of the central characters in G.I. Joe and the regular team leader in the iconic Sunbow animated series from the 80s.
The project is directed and co-written by McBride and is intended as a standalone story, independent of previous film adaptations of the franchise, with no direct continuity to them.
For modern audiences, the casting has an added appeal: Cooper has been linked to the MCU for years thanks to his work as the voice of Rocket Raccoon in the Guardians of the Galaxy films. Duke, however, is a radically different character, much more serious and far removed from the sarcastic tone of the Marvel space raccoon.
The actor is no stranger to the war genre in his filmography. His credits include titles such as The A-Team and American Sniper, background that makes it easy to imagine him in the Joes' uniform.
A franchise that keeps changing its lead
Cinema has produced three live-action G.I. Joe films so far, and in each one, the main face has been different.
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra introduced Channing Tatum as Duke. When the actor decided to step away from the saga, G.I. Joe: Retaliation sidelined his character and placed Roadblock, played by Dwayne Johnson, as the new central figure of the cast.
Later came Snake Eyes, conceived as a prequel and reboot centered on the enigmatic warrior previously played by Ray Park. In that instance, the character was handed over to Henry Golding.
With this new project, Danny McBride seems to be looking for a different approach: getting closer to the classic configuration remembered by those who followed the original animated series.
Inspiration from a classic comic and animated series story
One of the most striking aspects of the new reboot is its source of inspiration. McBride has noted that one of his main references is the two-part episode There's No Place Like Springfield from the animated series, which is in turn based on the Marvel Comics story A Nice Little Town Like Ours.
The original plot is quite unique for what is usually associated with G.I. Joe. Cobra builds a fake town with an idyllic appearance where one of the team members wakes up convinced that the war is over. In reality, it is all a sophisticated trap designed to interrogate him.
A relevant detail is that, in the animated version, the protagonist of that story was not Duke, but Shipwreck, the team's sailor who always appears with his parrot. McBride has explained that his film will follow Duke and a group of other Joes, so it remains to be seen what real weight Cooper's character will have within the plot.
Will Bradley Cooper share the lead?
The report on Cooper's casting indicates that the actor maintains a tight schedule, although he has managed to set aside time for this project.
That detail leaves a possibility open: if McBride keeps a good part of the structure of the original comic and series story, Duke could share the spotlight with Shipwreck or even have a more secondary role in certain parts of the film.
For now, the only thing confirmed is that Bradley Cooper will play Duke and that the film will take that particular story from the animated series as a reference. The rest of the cast, especially who plays Shipwreck, could completely change the perception of who really carries the narrative weight.
A different Duke from Channing Tatum’s
Cooper's choice also marks a clear difference from the previous cinematic version of the character.
While the Duke of the comics and the series is usually presented as an experienced soldier with authority, the version played by Channing Tatum opted for a younger and more impulsive profile. Bradley Cooper's profile allows for a closer approach to that image of a veteran with greater weight within the team.
That could be precisely one of the keys to this new attempt to bring G.I. Joe to the big screen: recovering recognizable elements of the animated series without exactly repeating what was seen in previous installments.
With Duke apparently defined, two other key names remain to be known to understand the tone of the film: who will play Shipwreck and who will play Cobra Commander. If the project really leans on that classic stage of the franchise, those casting decisions could reveal a lot about the approach Danny McBride wants to give this new G.I. Joe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Bradley Cooper in the new G.I. Joe reboot?
Bradley Cooper will play Duke, that is, Conrad Hauser, one of the central characters and the regular team leader in the classic G.I. Joe animated series.
Who is directing the new G.I. Joe reboot?
The film is directed and co-written by Danny McBride and is intended as a standalone story, independent of previous film adaptations of the franchise.
What is the new G.I. Joe film inspired by?
Danny McBride has pointed to the two-part episode There's No Place Like Springfield from the animated series, based on the Marvel Comics story A Nice Little Town Like Ours, as a reference.
Is Bradley Cooper known for any Marvel role?
Yes, Bradley Cooper is the voice of Rocket Raccoon in several films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including the Guardians of the Galaxy installments.
Who has played Duke in the movies before?
Channing Tatum played Duke in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, before the character lost prominence in G.I. Joe: Retaliation, where Dwayne Johnson led the cast as Roadblock.
Will Shipwreck appear in the new G.I. Joe film?
The casting for Shipwreck has not yet been confirmed, although the character is central to the original story that inspires the plot, which raises questions about his weight compared to Duke in this version.