Production has officially begun on John Rambo, the origin story of the famous action hero. Noah Centineo is stepping into the boots of the young John Rambo for this prequel. Lionsgate announced that filming started in Thailand, with a planned release in 2027.
The movie takes place before the events of the 1982 classic First Blood. Director Jalmari Helander, known for the action film Sisu, is directing the project.
Multiple Thailand Locations Used for Filming
The production is spread across several areas in Thailand. The crew is shooting in Bangkok, Krabi, Phang Nga, and Kanchanaburi. These locations offer a mix of busy city streets and rugged natural landscapes.
Thailand has a long history with the Rambo franchise. Earlier movies in the series also used the country for filming. The new prequel continues that connection.
Screen Global Production reported that Lionsgate confirmed the start of filming. Variety also reported that production began in Bangkok with support from Lionsgate, Millennium Media, Templeton Media, and AGBO.
Noah Centineo Takes Over the Role
Noah Centineo is playing a young John Rambo. The character was originally played by Sylvester Stallone across five films over four decades. Centineo is known for his roles in The Recruit and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.
The story will explore Rambo’s early life. Sources say the plot will focus on his time as a young soldier during the Vietnam War. This happens years before the character became a hunted veteran in First Blood.
James Franco and David Harbour Join the Cast
James Franco has joined the movie in a small role as a villain. This marks Franco’s return to a major studio franchise after several years away from Hollywood.
David Harbour, known for Stranger Things, plays Major Trautman. Trautman is Rambo’s commanding officer in the Vietnam War. The character appeared in the original films as the one person who understood Rambo.
The cast also includes:
- Yao (Sinners)
- Jason Tobin (A Thousand Blows, Warrior)
- Quincy Isaiah (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty)
- Jefferson White (Yellowstone)
- Tayme Thapthimthong (The White Lotus Season 3)
Sylvester Stallone Serves as Executive Producer
While Sylvester Stallone is not acting in the prequel, he has joined the project as an executive producer. This marks the first time Stallone has taken a producing role in the Rambo franchise.
Stallone confirmed the news on his social media. Lionsgate’s Adam Fogelson spoke about Stallone’s involvement.
“Sylvester Stallone knows the character of John Rambo better than anyone, and Lionsgate has had the good fortune of partnering with Sly for more than 20 years on this legendary IP. His participation is the final, critical piece to John Rambo.” – Adam Fogelson, Chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group
Stallone co-wrote all five previous Rambo films and directed the 2008 entry Rambo. The Rambo series has earned more than $819 million at the global box office.
Behind the Camera Team
The film is directed by Jalmari Helander. His movie Sisu became a surprise hit for Lionsgate. The screenplay was written by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani.
The producing team includes Kevin King Templeton, Les Weldon, Jonathan Yunger, Angela Russo-Otstot, and Michael Disco.
Executive producers include Anthony and Joe Russo (AGBO), Trevor Short, Dallas Sonnier, and Amanda Presmyk, alongside Stallone.
Release Date Information
John Rambo is scheduled for release in 2027. An exact date has not been announced yet. The movie will be distributed by Lionsgate worldwide.
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What the Prequel Is About
The plot takes audiences back to the Vietnam War era. A young John Rambo is shown as a Green Beret soldier. The story will show the experiences that shaped him into the troubled warrior audiences met in First Blood.
The Rambo character was created by author David Morrell in his novel First Blood. Stallone brought the character to life on screen in 1982 and continued the role for more than 40 years.
This prequel marks the sixth film in the Rambo franchise. It is the first movie in the series that does not feature Stallone in the lead role.
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