Noah Centineo, known for his roles in Netflix’s The Recruit and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, is set to portray a young John Rambo in the upcoming prequel film John Rambo. According to Deadline, the film will explore the iconic action hero’s origins during the Vietnam War, before the events of the 1982 movie First Blood.
The project is being developed by Millennium Media and will be directed by Finnish filmmaker Jalmari Helander, best known for Sisu. The script is written by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani, the writing duo behind Black Adam, in which Centineo also starred.
Although Sylvester Stallone, who made the Rambo character famous across five films, is not involved in the prequel, he is reportedly aware of the project and Centineo's casting. The film is expected to begin production in early 2026 in Thailand, with Lionsgate reportedly the front-runner to distribute, continuing its association with the franchise following Rambo: Last Blood.
Centineo’s casting marks a significant shift for the franchise, which has grossed over $800 million globally since its debut. While some fans may be skeptical about the actor stepping into such a rugged role, Centineo has been expanding his action credentials, including roles in Warfare and the upcoming Street Fighter adaptation.
The film will be produced by Kevin King-Templeton, Les Weldon, Jonathan Yunger, and Avi Lerner, with executive producers Trevor Short and Bonfire Legends’ Dallas Sonnier and Amanda Presmyk. Helander, meanwhile, is set to release Sisu 2 in November 2025, building anticipation for his take on the Rambo franchise.
With its mix of war drama and high-octane action, John Rambo aims to reignite interest in one of cinema’s most enduring action icons while introducing a new generation to the troubled veteran’s beginnings.
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