Noah Centineo is set to portray a young John Rambo in an upcoming origin film that will serve as a prequel to the long-running action franchise made famous by Sylvester Stallone. Titled John Rambo, the project is being developed by Millennium Media, with Sisu director Jalmari Helander attached to direct from a screenplay by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani.
Sources indicate that filming is scheduled to begin in early 2026 in Thailand. While distribution rights have yet to be finalized, Lionsgate—responsible for the last two entries in the franchise—is said to be the leading contender. The studio has previously collaborated with Helander on Sisu.
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Details of the plot remain under wraps, but the film will reportedly depict Rambo’s early years as a Green Beret during the Vietnam War. The character, created by author David Morell in his 1972 novel First Blood, first appeared on screen in the 1982 film of the same name, which introduced Stallone’s portrayal of a psychologically scarred veteran drawn into violent conflict with local authorities. The franchise went on to produce four sequels, grossing over $850 million worldwide.
Stallone, now 79, is not involved in the new film, though sources say he has been informed of Centineo’s casting. He had previously expressed interest in a prequel, describing Rambo as “the most popular kid in school; super athlete,” before the war changed him. “If you saw him before, he was like the perfect guy,” Stallone said in a 2019 interview.
The new film will be produced by Kevin King-Templeton, Les Weldon, Jonathan Yunger, and Avi Lerner. Executive producers include Trevor Short, Dallas Sonnier, and Amanda Presmyk.
Centineo rose to prominence through Netflix’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and has recently taken on more action-driven roles, including appearances in Warfare and Our Hero, Balthazar, which premiered at this year’s Tribeca Festival. He will next be seen in Street Fighter opposite Jason Momoa and Andrew Koji.
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