James Franco joins 'John Rambo' prequel alongside Noah Centineo in villain role

James Franco is officially joining the cast of John Rambo, the upcoming prequel to the iconic Rambo franchise, where Noah Centineo will take on the role of a young John Rambo.

According to Variety, Franco has signed on for a small but pivotal role as one of the film’s villains. The casting marks another high-profile addition to the origin story, which explores Rambo’s early years during the Vietnam War before the events of the 1982 classic First Blood.

The film is being directed by Jalmari Helander, best known for Sisu, from a screenplay by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani. Lionsgate is distributing the movie, with Millennium Media and AGBO producing.

The cast also includes David Harbour as Colonel Sam Trautman, the military mentor famously portrayed by Richard Crenna in the original films. Sylvester Stallone, who originated the role of John Rambo, is serving as an executive producer on the project.

Production on John Rambo is already underway in Thailand. While an official release date has not yet been announced, the film is expected to bring a fresh perspective to one of action cinema’s most enduring characters.