‘Rambo’ Prequel Adds Sylvester Stallone as Executive Producer

Rambo fans already knew things were changing when the franchise chose to focus on a prequel. For the first time in the franchise’s 44-year history, a new actor is taking the lead in John Rambo, with Noah Centineo cast as the action hero. Sylvester Stallone was not originally involved with the prequel, but it looks like that is changing. Along with a new actor playing Rambo, the action franchise is delivering another first as Stallone signs on in a new role.

Stallone still won’t be appearing in the prequel movie, but Deadline reports the franchise veteran is now taking on the role of an executive producer for John Rambo. While he has lent his talents to the screenplays for each Rambo movie, even directing the fourth installment in 2008, the next entry will be the first time Stallone has ever served as a producer on the franchise. The actor joins the production, which is currently filming in Bangkok, Thailand, with Sisu director Jalmari Helander at the helm.

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair, Adam Fogelson, expressed the studio’s excitement at having Stallone join John Rambo, adding that he knows the character “better than anyone.” Fogelson said:

“Sylvester Stallone knows the character of John Rambo better than anyone, and Lionsgate has had the good fortune of partnering with Sly for more than 20 years on this legendary IP. His participation is the final, critical piece to John Rambo, and we’re thrilled to have his involvement.”

Stallone has also taken to social media to share the news himself, noting on Instagram how much the character has meant to him throughout his career while also adding his enthusiasm for the John Rambo prequel.

Stallone’s post on Instagram reads:

“Rambo has been part of my life for a very long time. A character built on resilience, survival, and the scars of war. He’s meant a lot to me and to audiences around the world for decades.

Now we’re going back to where his story begins. I’m excited to be executive producing @JohnRamboFilm, exploring the early chapter of the man before the legend.”

Centineo has ruffled some feathers from fans of the franchise, but that was likely to be the case with any actor replacing Stallone. The young actor has shown his action chops in his series The Recruit, and even in the bygone era of the defunct DCEU in Black Adam. The cast of John Rambo also includes Yao (Sinners), Jason Tobin (Warrior), Jefferson White (Yellowstone), Quincy Isaiah (Winning Time), and Tayme Thapthimthong (The White Lotus).

The story is still under wraps, but it is meant to be a prequel to First Blood (1982), focusing on Rambo’s time during the Vietnam War. Where First Blood has already introduced a traumatized war veteran who just wanted to be left alone, John Rambo is looking to show his journey to that point. Action fans who have seen Sisu know that Helander can craft silent, brooding protagonists who can deliver adrenaline-fueled, often gory thrills. The director has previously stated his lifelong fandom of the franchise, hoping to ease fans’ minds. Helander has also promised a “stripped down, raw, and real” take on the character, stating:

“When I was 11, 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. 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.”

John Rambo currently doesn’t have a release date, but is likely eyeing a 2026 premiere. Further details about the film’s story and release will be forthcoming as production continues.