Noah Centineo Cast as Young 'John Rambo' in New Prequel
Rumored to begin shooting in 2026.
Millennium Media is actively developing a prequel to the classic Rambo franchise, titled John Rambo, with rising star Noah Centineo attached to play the iconic character made famous by Sylvester Stallone. Jalmari Helander is set to direct the film with writing duo Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani attached for the script.
The film will explore the origin story of John Rambo during his time as an elite Green Beret in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. This new take is a significant departure from the original films, as it aims to delve into the psychological and physical journey that shaped Rambo into the tormented veteran we first met in 1982’s First Blood.
This casting has sparked considerable debate, as Centineo is best known for his roles in romantic comedies like the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series. However, he has recently demonstrated his versatility in more action-oriented projects like the Netflix series The Recruit and the film Warfare. With Rambo, Centineo joins a franchise that began with the 1982 film, First Blood that kicked off the five-film franchise. The storyline, based on David Morrell’s 1972 novel First Blood.
While the plot details are being kept under wraps, the film is expected to begin production in 2026. Sylvester Stallone is reportedly aware of the project but is not directly involved, which paves the way for a completely new vision for the franchise.
