New John Rambo Movie Gets Major Filming Update From Studio Executive

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A new Rambo movie is in the works, and it’s expected to be fantastic, even though Sylvester Stallone won’t be involved this time.

For decades, Sylvester Stallone has been the only actor to play Rambo. But a new prequel, titled John Rambo, will introduce Noah Centineo as a younger version of the character first seen in the 1982 film First Blood. While Stallone won’t appear in front of the camera for this sixth installment, he’s still involved as an executive producer.

Lionsgate hasn’t announced when the new John Rambo prequel will be released, but Helen Lee-Kim, the company’s President of International, shared an update with Deadline. She confirmed filming is complete and described the movie as “huge and genuinely amazing.”

I’ve been following the production of the new Rambo movie, and it sounds incredible! Filming started in Bangkok back in January and wrapped up pretty quickly in March. I recently read some really encouraging words from Lee-Kim about the footage director Jalmari Helander shot, and they matched what Lionsgate’s Adam Fogelson said a few months ago. He apparently described the footage as better than he ever imagined – truly extraordinary! It’s getting me so excited for the release.

I recently spoke with the filmmakers about what fans can expect with this new take on Rambo, and they really put my mind at ease. They assured me that while they’re bringing something fresh to the table, they’re doing it in a way that honors the Rambo we already know and love. They want to give us a deeper understanding of the character, making it both original and respectful of the previous films – a tricky balance, but they seem confident they’ve struck it.

Despite Sylvester Stallone discussing a prequel idea – one that would have used artificial intelligence to depict a younger Rambo – Lionsgate moved forward with a new John Rambo film. Stallone explained in a September 2025 interview with ScreenRant that the prequel was abandoned because the project was delayed, and another team took over. He expressed hope that they would be successful. Stallone had envisioned the prequel as a way to show how Rambo gradually became a highly skilled fighter.

He initially expected his time in Vietnam to be a quick, three-week experience. But things quickly turned terrible – he was captured and tortured, witnessed the deaths of his friends, and endured a difficult life in Saigon. Those experiences profoundly changed him; before Vietnam, he’d lived a carefree and enjoyable life.

The director of the upcoming John Rambo prequel, Helander, recently explained why he took on the project. When the film was announced in August 2025, he shared that he’s been a huge Rambo fan since he was eleven years old. He described it as a dream come true, saying the opportunity feels like a culmination of his childhood and he’s excited to bring the iconic action hero back to the big screen.

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2026-05-15 21:21