Noah Centineo has been cast to portray a young John Rambo in the upcoming Sylvester Stallone Rambo prequel, which began production in Bangkok, Thailand, in January 2026. This new film aims to explore the origins of the iconic Green Beret soldier before the events depicted in the original First Blood story.
Casting and Key Performers in the Rambo Origin Story
The prequel will feature Noah Centineo as the youthful John Rambo, bringing a fresh face to the soldier famously played by Sylvester Stallone in five previous films. Known for his roles in rom-coms like To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Centineo has also portrayed a Navy SEAL in 2025’s Warfare and is slated to appear as Ken Masters in the upcoming Street Fighter reboot.
The supporting cast includes notable actors such as Yao from Sinners, Quincy Isaiah from Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, Jason Tobin of F9, Jefferson White of Yellowstone, and Tayme Thapthimthong from The White Lotus. Specific roles for these actors have yet to be revealed.
Exploring the Storyline of the John Rambo Prequel
The narrative is set several years prior to the events of the 1972 novel First Blood by David Morrell and its 1982 film adaptation starring Stallone. While the original focused on Rambo’s return from the Vietnam War, this new project delves into his experiences during the conflict, shedding light on how he transformed into the battle-hardened character recognized worldwide.
Director Jalmari Helander, known for the acclaimed action film Sisu, explained the unique approach taken with this origin story in November 2025.
“Of course, it’s different, because we’re gonna start in a place where everything is basically pretty okay for Rambo,”
he said.
“He’s happy and younger and all that, because we are telling the origin story.”
Helander added,
“What would happen to him? Why did he become that kind of dude that we’ve all seen in First Blood? So it’s different.”
This suggests a focus on Rambo’s transformation from a hopeful young man to the survivalist and warrior fans know.
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group president Erin Westerman also commented on how the film will connect with both longtime fans and newcomers.
“We’re thrilled to start production on John Rambo, which will allow both new audiences and existing fans to explore John Rambo’s roots, his principles, and most importantly, some incredible action, courtesy of Jalmari’s singular vision,”
Westerman said. She praised Noah Centineo’s approach, stating,
“And we’re so excited for Noah’s committed and powerful performance to show what forged this character into legend.”
Director’s Vision for the Prequel’s Tone and Themes
Jalmari Helander shared his personal connection to the project in January 2026, reflecting on how the original First Blood influenced him during childhood.
“When I was 11, I saw First Blood for the first time, and it changed my life,”
he said.
“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. As we begin production on the origin of John Rambo, we’re going back to the beginning.”
Helander further elaborated on the raw and authentic nature he intends to capture:
“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.”
Sylvester Stallone’s Thoughts on the Young Rambo Adaptation
Sylvester Stallone, who originated the character on screen, has expressed support for a Rambo prequel while revealing in September 2025 that he had once hoped to use artificial intelligence to portray a younger version of Rambo himself.
“I wanted to do the first AI … not retroactive … but I wanted to rewrite 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 explained.
“And when he goes to Vietnam, he thinks it’s going to be a three-week hit-and-run, and you see him being tortured and captured, his friends murdered, one thing after another, and [his] life in Saigon.”
Stallone also reflected on his original vision for the character’s backstory:
“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 and, I hope, you know, good luck.”
Additionally, in February 2024 on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Stallone shared that Ryan Gosling had been his preferred choice to play young Rambo. He recounted,
“[Ryan] goes, ‘I was fascinated by Rambo, and I used to go to school dressed as Rambo, and people would chase me away and I still didn’t stop. I’d vacation as Rambo,’”
adding,
“He just kept saying that he had a lot of affiliation with Rambo.”
Stallone teased,
“I thought, ‘You know, this is interesting. If I ever pass the baton, I’ll pass it on to him because he loves the character.”
However, the anticipated Gosling-led prequel did not materialize, and Noah Centineo was officially announced as the lead in August 2025.
Production and Release Details for the New Rambo Film
The film entered production early in 2026, with filming based in Bangkok, Thailand. A release date has not yet been disclosed. The project is backed by producers Millennium Media and involves writers Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani, known for their work on Black Adam.
This Sylvester Stallone Rambo prequel will mark a return to the character’s early years, offering audiences a new perspective on the origins of John Rambo. As production progresses, fans of the franchise and action genre will be closely watching how this reinterpretation balances respect for the original material with fresh storytelling and intense action sequences that define Rambo’s legacy.
