'John Rambo' Prequel Officially Starts Production and Reveals Full Cast
Back to the Beginning: 'John Rambo' Prequel Officially Starts Production and Reveals Full Cast
BANGKOK, THAILAND — The knife is sharp, the headband is tied, and the origin of a legend is finally underway. Lionsgate and Millennium Media have officially announced that principal photography has commenced in Thailand for John Rambo, the highly anticipated prequel exploring the formative years of cinema's most famous one-man army.
The production kick-off was accompanied by a major cast reveal, confirming the ensemble that will join Noah Centineo (The Recruit) as he steps into the boots first made iconic by Sylvester Stallone.
A New Face for a Legacy Hero
Taking place years before the events of 1982's First Blood, the film is being billed as a "stripped-down, raw, and real" survival story. Director Jalmari Helander, the visionary behind the visceral action-thriller Sisu, released a statement alongside the production announcement reflecting on his deep personal connection to the character.
“When I was eleven, I saw First Blood for the first time, and it changed my life,” Helander said. “This is Rambo stripped down... a survival story about endurance, persistence, and lost innocence. It’s an honor to shape this next chapter with deep respect for the legacy.”
The Supporting Ensemble Revealed
While Centineo’s casting as the young Vietnam-era Rambo has been known for months, Lionsgate has finally pulled back the curtain on the supporting cast. The diverse ensemble includes:
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Yao: Fresh off a breakout role in Ryan Coogler’s Sinners.
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Jefferson White: Best known as Jimmy Hurdstrom on the hit series Yellowstone.
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Quincy Isaiah: The star of Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.
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Jason Tobin: Known for his gritty performance in the martial-arts drama Warrior.
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Tayme Thapthimthong: A standout from the latest season of The White Lotus.
Specific character details remain under a strict "black-ops" level of secrecy, though insiders suggest the roles comprise Rambo's original special forces unit and the commanding officers who witnessed his transformation into a lethal operative.
The "Russo" Influence
The project carries significant industry weight, with Joe and Anthony Russo (Avengers: Endgame) serving as executive producers through their AGBO banner. The screenplay is penned by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani (The Mauritanian), hinting at a film that balances explosive action with the psychological trauma inherent to the Rambo character.
Fans of the original franchise have been cautiously optimistic about a Rambo film without Stallone. However, producer Kevin King Templeton a long-time collaborator of Stallone emphasized that the team is "very mindful of the character's legacy," promising a film that honors the "core beliefs" Stallone established over five films and four decades.
Filming Across Thailand
Production is currently centered in Bangkok but is scheduled to move across various rugged terrains in Thailand, including Krabi and Kanchanaburi, to recreate the dense, unforgiving jungles of the Vietnam War era.
Lionsgate has not yet set a definitive release date, but with production now in full swing, a mid-2027 theatrical launch is widely expected.
