John Rambo – Production Begins on Brand New Prequel From “Rare Exports” Director
Okay, we have to admit the idea of a “Rambo” movie without Sylvester Stallone usually sounds like blasphemy. Even if it is a prequel. It’s like trying to make an Indiana Jones movie without Harrison Ford or Terminator without… well, you get the point. Ol’ Sly absolutely is the franchise. The long-rumored John Rambo origin story has officially kicked off production in Bangkok, Thailand, and it is poised to answer the question nobody really asked: What was the formidable one-man army like before he was broken by war?
John Rambo Origins
Hollywood, in its infinite wisdom (and unquenchable thirst for IP), is hitting the origin story. We’ve known for a bit that this prequel was in the pipeline, but seeing the cameras actually rolling makes it so much more real. And terrifying. And maybe, just maybe, kind of exciting?
Noah Centineo is Trading Love Letters for M60s
Here is the kicker that has half the internet scratching their heads and the other half cautiously intrigued. The man stepping into the combat boots of John Rambo is none other than Noah Centineo. Yes, the internet’s boyfriend. This is the guy who stole hearts in “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.” We are pivoting from high school crushes to full-blown guerrilla warfare.
It’s a fairly bold casting choice, to put it mildly. We are used to seeing Centineo charm his way through teenage awkwardness, not gutting enemies in the jungle. However, he’s been bulking up for roles like “Black Adam” and the upcoming “Street Fighter,” so physically, he might just pull it off. The film is set to explore Rambo as a young man – a “super athlete” and popular kid – before the horrors of Vietnam turned him into the drifter we met in “First Blood.” It’s a massive gamble, but if Heath Ledger taught us anything, it’s to never judge a casting choice until the trailer drops.
The Secret Weapon: Why This Prequel Might Actually Rule
If you are rolling your eyes at the casting, pause for a second and look at who is sitting in the director’s chair. This John Rambo project is being helmed by Jalmari Helander. If that name doesn’t ring a bell, you need to go watch “Rare Exports” and “Sisu” immediately.
“Sisu” was essentially a Finnish “John Wick” meets “Rambo” on steroids, featuring a gold prospector who absolutely refuses to die while dismantling an entire Nazi squadron. It was visceral, gritty, violent, and surprisingly emotional.
Helander knows how to shoot raw survival action better than almost anyone working today. He told Bloody Disgusting that “First Blood” changed his life when he was eleven, and that he wants to strip the character back to something “raw and real.” If he can bring that same “Sisu” energy to this prequel, we might be in for a treat rather than a travesty.
Who Else Is Joining the Fight?
Centineo isn’t going into the jungle alone. The cast list is filling out with some solid talent that suggests Lionsgate is taking the dramatic weight of this prequel seriously. We’ve got Jefferson White (he was Jimmy from “Yellowstone) and Jason Tobin (“Warrior”), both of whom know how to handle intense, physical roles. Also joining the squad are Quincy Isaiah (“Winning Time”), Yao (“Sinners”), and also Tayme Thapthimthong (“The White Lotus”).
The screenplay comes from Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani, the duo behind “The Mauritanian.” This suggests the studio is aiming for a script with actual narrative substance, rather than just 90 minutes of fighting and explosions – though, knowing Helander, there will definitely be explosions.
Does Stallone Approve of a John Rambo Prequel?
Usually, when a studio reboots a classic character, the original actor is somewhere in the background grumbling. Not Ol’ Sly. Stallone has actually been championing a “Young Rambo” concept for years. He has gone on record saying he always envisioned the younger John Rambo as the captain of the football team, the popular kid, the guy who had it all before the war stripped his youth and innocence away.
While Stallone isn’t starring in this (obviously), the project seems to align with his specific vision for the character’s history. This isn’t just a generic action movie slapped with a famous name; it attempts to bridge the gap between the all-American boy and the PTSD-stricken veteran of “First Blood.”
Will it work? Or will it be another average action flick destined to hit the bargain bin? With Helander at the helm, we are willing to give it a shot. Film production is underway now, so we won’t have to wait too long to see if Centineo can truly draw first blood.
