A new Rambo movie, serving as a prequel, is moving forward quickly. Director Jalmari Helander, known for the film Sisu, has announced when filming will begin. Plans for a continuation of the series emerged after Rambo: Last Blood was initially intended as Sylvester Stallone’s final appearance, but a prequel was announced in early 2025 with Helander directing.
It’s still unclear how involved Sylvester Stallone will be in the new film, as this is the first time he hasn’t written any part of it. The script is being handled by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani, who previously worked on The Mauritanian. Development of the prequel, currently called John Rambo, picked up momentum a few months ago when Noah Centineo, known for The Recruit, was cast as the lead role. Lionsgate then secured the rights to distribute the movie worldwide in November.
Director Jalmari Helander recently spoke with ScreenRant about his new movie, Sisu: Road to Revenge, and shared an update on the upcoming Rambo prequel. When asked if he was planning to include references to previous Rambo films, Helander hinted at many surprises he can’t yet reveal, but confirmed that filming will begin on January 26th.
Now that filming is scheduled to begin in late January 2026, it’s unlikely the new Rambo prequel will be in cinemas next year. While the time it takes to film a Rambo movie has differed over the five films, most have needed at least three months of shooting, followed by at least five months of post-production before being released.
While fans eager for the next installment might be let down, the delay actually has some advantages. Director Helander recently had great success with his Sisu films, both of which received very positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. This gives him more time to perfect the script and editing before releasing the movie, ensuring it’s the best it can be.
The delay is good news for the new Rambo prequel, especially considering the mixed reception of the previous five films. While the original Rambo from 1982 earned strong positive reviews (currently 86% on Rotten Tomatoes), all the sequels have been met with mostly negative feedback, particularly Last Blood. This extra time allows director Adrian Helander to potentially create the best Rambo film since the original and could set up future movies in the series.
Delaying the release of the new Rambo movie could actually allow it to debut during a significant anniversary. If the studio waits until late 2027, the prequel could be released on the 45th anniversary of the original First Blood. This timing would also give the film a strong start at the box office, as it would face limited competition beyond The Batman Part II. Regardless of the exact release date, the fact that filming is starting soon means fans will likely get a first look at the new Rambo, starring Centineo, relatively quickly.
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2025-11-22 01:41