G.I. Joe is one live-action movie franchise that has yet to deliver an installment where the majority opinion is a positive one (among either critics or even a major subset of the fanbase). It's for that reason that most people invested in this series appear to be fine with the news that G.I. Joe 3 won't carry over any writing/directing talents from previous Joe adventures.

Jon M. Chu helmed G.I. Joe: Retaliation and was originally lined up to direct G.I. Joe 3, but he's since stepped away to work on other projects - Jem and the Holograms for 2015, Now You See Me: The Second Act in 2016. Casino Royale and Green Lantern helmsman Martin Campbell was rumored to replace him, but now D.J. Caruso appears to be firmly set as the new G.I. Joe 3 director - seeing as he's reportedly developing a fresh script with screenwriter Aaron Berg.

Berg is a relative unknown at this point, but he penned the script for the James Bond-style thriller Section 6: a project that started quite the bidding war among studios, before Universal picked it up. Section 6, as suggested by the title, revolves around MI6 - meaning, Berg knows his way around military operations/espionage genre film fare. That's a first for the G.I. Joe live-action movie series, as it were - and more so, bodes well for what Berg will make of the Joe property.

G.I. Joe 3 getting a new script

THR is reporting that Berg is working alongside Caruso on a fresh G.I. Joe 3 script, in order to "revamp the action franchise." Past G.I. Joe films (which, of course, originated with the Hasbro toyline) were commercially-successful - but, as mentioned before, pretty unpopular with critics and even hardcore fans of the brand. So again, this is one IP that many fans should be okay with under-going what sounds like a partial reboot... again.

There's nothing in THR's update to indicate that elements from Jonathan Lemkin's (Shooter) G.I. Joe 3 script draft - or, prior to that, the screenplay by Evan Daugherty (TMNT (2014)) - are being carried over by Berg and Caruso. That doesn't mean the duo won't retain certain ideas and characters, though, so we cannot yet rule out previous rumors like the villains being twins Tomax and Xamot - or the possibility of Channing Tatum's Duke coming back (though Tatum might be too busy for that right now).

Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock in G.I Joe: Retaliation

Caruso's directorial resume is perhaps something of a mixed bag (Disturbia, Eagle Eye, I Am Number Four). However, with the right screenwriter in tow (like, hopefully, Berg), Caruso has proven capable enough to deliver the overall solid G.I. Joe that many fans would like to see at this point. Again, "solid" is a feasible benchmark worth aiming for, in this case.

G.I. Joe 3 should do alright at the global box office, what with Dwayne Johnson still expected to anchor the film as Roadblock - but if it doesn't prove to be a hit with fans, then it might be three strikes and you're out for the G.I. Joe live-action movies. Failing that, maybe Paramount will finally just throw caution to the wind and thereafter put together a G.I. Joe/Transformers cross-over - as part of the developing Transformers cinematic universe, perhaps?

We'll bring you more information on G.I. Joe 3 when we have it.

Source: THR