Noah Centineo cast as young John Rambo in new prequel

Rambo prequel begins filming in Thailand with Noah Centineo leading origin story from Sisu director Helander movie

A new prequel film exploring the origins of John Rambo has officially entered production in Bangkok, Thailand. 

The upcoming movie will star Noah Centineo as a younger version of the iconic action hero first portrayed by Sylvester Stallone.

The project will be directed by Finnish filmmaker Jalmari Helander, known for the action thriller Sisu and its sequel. According to Helander, the film will present a grounded and intense survival story set during Rambo’s early experiences in the Vietnam War. He described the prequel as a return to the character’s raw beginnings, focusing on endurance, persistence and the loss of innocence that shaped the future soldier.

The screenplay is written by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani, whose previous credits include The Mauritanian. Joe and Anthony Russo are attached as executive producers. Several additional cast members have joined the film, including Yao, Jason Tobin, Quincy Isaiah, Jefferson White and Tayme Thapthimthong, though their specific roles have not yet been revealed.

The original Rambo franchise began with 1982’s First Blood, which introduced John Rambo as a troubled Vietnam veteran pushed into conflict by a hostile small-town sheriff. The character later became a global action icon through sequels that took him back to Vietnam, Afghanistan and other war-torn regions across multiple decades.

This prequel aims to show Rambo before those events, chronicling his first mission and formative combat experiences. No actor has yet been announced for the role of Colonel Sam Trautman, Rambo’s future commanding officer and mentor in the original films.

A release date for the Rambo prequel has not yet been announced.