The Rambo franchise is getting a major new chapter as Noah Centineo has been confirmed to play a young John Rambo in a forthcoming prequel film titled John Rambo. The project, being developed by Millennium Media, will explore the action hero’s Vietnam War origins, offering a deeper look at what shaped the character before Sylvester Stallone made him iconic in the original First Blood and its sequels.
Centineo, 29, best known for roles ranging from Netflix’s The Recruit to DC’s Black Adam and the To All the Boys series, has taken on one of cinema’s most recognizable action roles, marking a significant genre shift for the actor. The film will focus on Rambo’s time as a Green Beret in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, an era only hinted at in past entries.
Veteran action character Rambo first burst onto screens in 1982’s First Blood, played by Stallone, and became a touchstone of action cinema across five films over nearly four decades. While Stallone helped define Rambo’s hard-nosed, haunted veteran persona, John Rambo will rewind the clock to show how those experiences forged the soldier at the center of that mythos.
The prequel is directed by Jalmari Helander (Sisu), with a screenplay from Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani, and is expected to begin production in early 2026, with locations such as Thailand on the schedule. Studios are still finalizing distribution plans, though Lionsgate, which released previous Rambo films, is a leading contender to handle the new picture worldwide.
Sylvester Stallone, now 78, is not expected to appear in the film, and the project represents a fresh take on the franchise rather than a continuation of the existing timeline. There have been discussions in the past about Stallone returning as a young Rambo via technology, but the decision to cast Centineo signals a full reboot of the character for this origin story.
Fans are reacting with a mix of excitement and skepticism given the stark contrast between Centineo’s previous roles and the gritty legacy of Rambo, but the casting also reflects his recent expansion into action and dramatic work. With its focus on Rambo’s early trauma and the brutal realities of war that shaped him, the prequel aims to add new depth to a character who has long stood as a symbol of survival and combat in Hollywood.
John Rambo represents a major evolution for the franchise, giving audiences a chance to see how history and the horrors of war, molded a young man into the battle-scarred warrior first introduced more than 40 years ago. Production is slated to begin in early 2026, with more details expected as the film moves closer to shooting.
