Lionsgate has officially announced that production has begun on a prequel film exploring the origins of John Rambo, the battle‑hardened Vietnam War veteran first immortalized by Sylvester Stallone. The movie is being filmed in Bangkok, with Noah Centineo, known for To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and the upcoming Street Fighter adaptation, set to play the iconic role.
The upcoming prequel will dive deep into the experiences that shaped Rambo, exploring the formative years of the Special Forces soldier before the events of 1982’s First Blood. Lionsgate promises a story that examines the trials, conflicts, and survival challenges that forged one of cinema’s most enduring action heroes.
Jalmari Helander, the director of 2022’s action-war hit Sisu and its 2025 sequel Sisu: Road to Revenge, is at the helm, with screenwriters Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani penning the script. Helander shared that his love for the original Rambo film inspired him to pursue filmmaking.
“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,” Helander said.
He added,
“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.”
The prequel promises to explore Rambo’s early military experiences, showing how the hardships of war and personal loss shaped the soldier audiences first met in First Blood. The film will focus on themes of resilience, survival, and the moral challenges faced by soldiers, presenting a grittier, more human portrait of the legendary character.
The project has a heavyweight team of producers attached, including Anthony and Joe Russo, best known for their work on Avengers and Captain America, along with Trevor Short, a producer on The Expendables franchise. Their involvement signals Lionsgate’s commitment to creating a cinematic experience that both honors the original Rambo films and introduces the story to a new generation.
The prequel comes after Stallone’s long tenure in the franchise, which included five films spanning from 1982’s First Blood to 2019’s Rambo: Last Blood. While Stallone will not reprise the role, the prequel is designed to honor the legacy of his portrayal while exploring a chapter of Rambo’s life that audiences have never seen before.
Noah Centineo, who will carry the torch as the young Rambo, has previously balanced romantic and action-oriented roles, making this a bold step into darker, more intense territory for the actor. Lionsgate’s announcement emphasizes that Centineo’s Rambo will reflect both the physical and emotional challenges of his early years as a soldier, giving fans a closer look at the man behind the legend.
Production in Bangkok is expected to include authentic war‑zone settings and survival sequences, promising to deliver a cinematic experience that is both immersive and faithful to the gritty tone of the original franchise.
With the combination of Helander’s direction, Haines and Noshirvani’s writing, and a team of seasoned producers, the prequel is shaping up to be a defining moment for the Rambo franchise — one that bridges the gap between the origins of the character and the legendary exploits audiences have come to know and love.
Fans of the franchise can look forward to a story of perseverance, survival, and heroism, exploring Rambo not just as an action icon, but as a human being forged by the trials of war. The project marks an exciting new chapter in one of Hollywood’s most enduring action franchises, introducing the next generation of audiences to the origins of John Rambo.
