Production is officially underway on the newest chapter of the Rambo franchise, and it’s taking audiences back to where it all began. Noah Centineo’s ‘John Rambo’ Prequel Fills Out Cast as Filming Gets Underway, with cameras now rolling in Bangkok, Thailand. The film explores the early life of the iconic character long before the events of First Blood made him a global action legend.
The origin story is being released by Lionsgate and directed by Jalmari Helander, who is diving into John Rambo’s formative years. Set decades before First Blood, the film reimagines the roots of the troubled yet resilient character first brought to life by Sylvester Stallone in the 1982 adaptation of David Morrell’s novel.
Centineo, who also appears in this year’s Street Fighter, takes on the lead role, marking a major pivot into darker, more physically demanding territory for the actor.
A Fresh Ensemble Joins the Rambo Universe
Alongside Centineo, Lionsgate confirmed a strong supporting cast that includes Yao, Jason Tobin, Quincy Isaiah, Jefferson White and Tayme Thapthimthong. Together, they round out an ensemble designed to ground the story in realism and emotional weight.
Helander directs from a script written by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani. The project is backed by Millennium Media, Templeton Media and AGBO, with a producing team that includes Kevin King Templeton, Les Weldon, Jonathan Yunger, Michael Disco and Angela Russo-Otstot. Executive producers include Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Trevor Short, Dallas Sonnier and Amanda Presmyk.
Honoring a Legacy While Starting Fresh
The original First Blood followed a Vietnam War veteran pushed to his limits by small-town law enforcement, a story that resonated deeply with audiences and went on to earn $125 million worldwide, spawning multiple sequels, including 2019’s Rambo: Last Blood.
For Helander, this prequel is deeply personal. He’s spoken about watching First Blood as a child and how it shaped his desire to become a filmmaker. His vision for John Rambo strips the character down to his rawest form, focusing on survival, resilience and the loss of innocence that forged the legend.
The Hollywood Reporter recently quoted Helander describing the project as both an honor and a responsibility, noting that his ultimate hope is to do justice to the character and make Stallone proud.
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group president Erin Westerman echoed that excitement, emphasizing that the film will introduce new audiences to Rambo’s origins while delivering intense action shaped by Helander’s distinctive style—and a committed performance from Centineo that reveals how John Rambo became an enduring cinematic icon.
