After five films and more than forty years, the Rambo film franchise is moving on without Sylvester Stallone. It was recently announced that Noah Centineo (The Recruit) would be taking over the role of John J. Rambo for a prequel titled John Rambo – and that prequel is now in production! Filming is taking place in Bangkok, Thailand with Sisu and Sisu: Road to Revenge director Jalmari Helander. Now that cameras are rolling, a start of production image has been unveiled, along with a director’s statement from Helander and the names of Centineo’s co-stars.
Cast
Scripted by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani (The Mauritanian, Black Adam), John Rambo takes audiences back, years before the events of First Blood, diving deep into the roots and experiences that forged one of the big screen’s most enduring and complex characters. A press release lets us know that Helander will bring John Rambo the intense, physical approach, that struck a chord with audiences and critics. Filming locations will take place across Thailand, including Bangkok, Krabi, Phang Nga, and Kanchanaburi.
Centineo is joined in the cast by yao (Sinners), Jason Tobin (A Thousand Blows), Quincy Isaiah (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty), Jefferson White (Yellowstone), and Tayme Thapthimthong (The White Lotus).
Producers
Producers for John Rambo include Kevin King-Templeton of Templeton Media, Les Weldon, and Jonathan Yunger. Trevor Short and Bonfire Legends’ Dallas Sonnier executive produce alongside Amanda Presmyk. AGBO, the studio founded by Anthony and Joe Russo, also recently came on board to produce as part of a partnership with Lionsgate and Millennium Media. Angela Russo-Otstot and Michael Disco produce for AGBO while Anthony and Joe Russo serve as executive producers. The film will be distributed by Lionsgate.
Helander provided the following statement: “When I was eleven, I saw First Blood for the first time, and it changed my life. Rambo wasn’t just a film to me—it stayed with me growing up and was a defining influence on why I wanted to become a filmmaker. As we begin production on the origin of John Rambo, we’re going back to the beginning. This is Rambo stripped down, raw, and real—a survival story about endurance, persistence, and lost innocence. It’s an honor to shape this next chapter with deep respect for the character and the legacy, and to bring audiences the start of John Rambo’s journey.“
Erin Westerman, president of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, had this to say: “We’re thrilled to start production on John Rambo, which will allow both new audiences and existing fans to explore John Rambo’s roots, his principles, and most importantly, some incredible action, courtesy of Jalmari’s singular vision. And we’re so excited for Noah’s committed and powerful performance to show what forged this character into legend.”
Angela Russo-Otstot, Producer, AGBO, added, “It’s a rare opportunity to revisit one of our favorite characters and a privilege to place him in the gifted hands of Noah and Jalmari. If these first days of photography have taught us anything, it’s that John Rambo is going to be a powerful and resonant chapter of this beloved canon.”
And producers Kevin King Templeton and Les Weldon said, “As we go back to tell John Rambo’s origin story, we’re very mindful of the character’s legacy. Jalmari approaches the film with discipline, and Noah brings not only the physical commitment, but the deep understanding of the character’s core beliefs and motivations that the role demands. They’re a powerful combination.“
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