A new John Rambo movie is officially in the works. Lionsgate has started production on a prequel film titled John Rambo, set years before the events of the original 1982 First Blood. The film has added five new cast members to star alongside leading man Noah Centineo. Filming is currently underway across Bangkok, Thailand, with additional shooting planned in Krabi, Phang Nga, and Kanchanaburi.
Who Is Starring in the New John Rambo Movie?
The studio has confirmed the main cast for the John Rambo origin story. Noah Centineo, known for To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and the upcoming Street Fighter movie, will play the younger version of the iconic character. He leads an ensemble of actors from popular television shows and films.
The five actors joining the cast are:
- Yao, who starred as Bo Chow in Ryan Coogler’s film Sinners.
- Jason Tobin, recognized for his role in the Disney+ series A Thousand Blows.
- Quincy Isaiah, who portrayed basketball legend Magic Johnson in the HBO series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.
- Jefferson White, best known for playing Jimmy Hurdstrom in the hit series Yellowstone.
- Tayme Thapthimthong, who appeared as security guard Gaitok in The White Lotus Season 3.
The film is described as an origin story that will show the experiences that created the John Rambo character. It will explore his roots and the events that shaped him long before his clash with a small-town sheriff in First Blood.
What the Director and Producers Are Saying About the Film
The film is directed by Jalmari Helander, the filmmaker behind the intense action movies Sisu and Sisu: Road to Revenge. For Helander, directing a Rambo movie is a childhood dream come true. He has shared that seeing First Blood as a child had a major impact on his life.
“When I was 11, I saw First Blood for the first time, and it changed my life,” Helander said. “Rambo wasn’t just a film to me — it stayed with me growing up and was a defining influence on why I wanted to become a filmmaker. As we begin production on the origin of John Rambo, we’re going back to the beginning. This is Rambo stripped down, raw, and real—a survival story about endurance, persistence, and lost innocence.”
Erin Westerman, President of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, expressed confidence in the team behind the film. “We’re thrilled to start production on John Rambo, which will allow both new audiences and existing fans to explore John Rambo’s roots, his principles, and most importantly, some incredible action, courtesy of Jalmari’s singular vision,” Westerman said. “And we’re so excited for Noah’s committed and powerful performance to show what forged this character into legend.”
The movie has major producers behind it. The production team includes Kevin King Templeton and Les Weldon, who have worked on previous Rambo and Expendables films. Anthony and Joe Russo, the directors of Avengers: Endgame, are executive producers through their company AGBO.
Sylvester Stallone’s Connection to the New Film
Sylvester Stallone, who created the role of John Rambo and played him in five films from 1982 to 2019, is not currently set to appear in this prequel. The story focuses on a much younger version of the character, which would require significant digital de-aging technology if Stallone were to be involved directly.
However, reports suggest the door remains open for some form of participation. In late 2025, Stallone mentioned he had personally pitched the idea of using AI to de-age him for the role. “Everyone thought I was crazy,” Stallone said about his idea. “AI is sophisticated enough… So it isn’t a big stretch.” As of now, the film is moving forward with Noah Centineo as the new face of the young soldier.
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Where and When the John Rambo Movie Is Filming
Principal photography for John Rambo began in January 2026. The production is based in Bangkok, Thailand. Scenes will also be shot in other Thai locations, including the coastal areas of Krabi and Phang Nga, and the western province of Kanchanaburi. These jungle and river locations are likely standing in for the film’s Vietnam War settings.
The screenplay is written by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani, who previously collaborated on the film Black Adam. The film will be distributed worldwide by Lionsgate, but a specific release date has not been announced yet.
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