Sylvester Stallone, the actor famously known for portraying John Rambo since 1982’s First Blood, had a different plan for the Sylvester Stallone Rambo prequel than the recent project announced by Millennium Media. Prior to the official announcement, Stallone disclosed that he was developing his own version of a Rambo prequel, which involved using artificial intelligence to depict a younger Rambo with an alternate backstory.
In an interview with ScreenRant, Stallone described his intention to rewrite Rambo’s history by portraying him as an all-American high school student—the valedictorian and prom king—before the horrors of the Vietnam War drastically changed him. He envisioned a narrative where Rambo initially believed his military service would be a short, three-week mission.
Stallone explained,
“I wanted to rewrite [the] history of the earlier Rambo because I wanted Rambo to be the nicest guy in the school, the valedictorian, the prom king, and all that stuff,”
he told the outlet.
“And when he goes to Vietnam, he thinks it’s going to be a three-week hit-and-run…”
He further added,
“And you see him being tortured and captured, his friends murdered, one thing after another, and [his] life in Saigon, and that’s how I became the way I became, but originally I was bon vivant — that kind of thing. And I thought, ‘We could do this with AI,’ but [we] procrastinated too long and they took it over.”
Industry Concerns Over AI and the Decision to Cast a Younger Actor
Stallone’s abandoned plans came amid a heated debate within the entertainment world about AI’s role in film production. AI’s use to recreate actors’ likenesses sparked controversy, notably during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, where concerns centered around AI replacing human performances and intellectual property rights tied to actors’ images. A subsequent strike by SAG-AFTRA’s video game performers also focused heavily on AI usage.
Reflecting these industry tensions, Millennium Media chose to produce the Rambo prequel using traditional methods, casting a young actor in the lead role rather than relying on AI technology.
In August, the production company announced that Noah Centineo, known for his lead role in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, will portray the young John Rambo in the upcoming film.
Creative Team and Premise of the New Rambo Prequel
The prequel film is set to be directed by Jalmari Helander, the filmmaker behind Sisu. The screenplay is written by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani, who are noted for their work on Informer and Black Adam. Although detailed plot points remain under wraps, the story will explore Rambo’s early experiences as an elite Green Beret in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
The Legacy of Rambo and Stallone’s Lasting Contribution
John Rambo originated in David Morrell’s 1972 novel First Blood and vaulted to iconic status after Stallone starred in the film adaptation. The character is a battle-hardened war veteran struggling with trauma but armed with superior combat skills, frequently opposing corrupt police officers, criminal organizations, and enemy forces.
The original film was followed by four sequels: Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), Rambo III (1988), Rambo (2008), and Rambo: Last Blood (2019). The latter installment featured Rambo confronting both his haunted past and final vendettas. The series has collectively earned over $850 million in box office revenue, with Stallone starring in every film and directing the 2008 entry.
Stallone’s Response to the Upcoming Prequel and Future Prospects
Despite shelving his AI-driven concept, Stallone expressed support for the new project, telling ScreenRant,
“I hope, you know, good luck.”
Filming for the John Rambo prequel is scheduled to begin in January 2026, promising a fresh yet classic take on the formative years of one of cinema’s most enduring heroes.
