Noah Centineo Set to Lead Rambo Origin Film John Rambo
Millennium’s prequel charts the character’s Vietnam-era origins, with Jalmari Helander directing and production eyed for Thailand as distribution details take shape.
Noah Centineo will portray a young John Rambo in an origin film titled John Rambo, with Millennium Media producing and Jalmari Helander (Sisu) directing from a script by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani. Production is expected to take place in Thailand, with timelines reported as early 2026 by some outlets after initial indications the shoot could begin sooner; a domestic distributor has not been announced. Variety first reported the casting as the prequel advanced toward production.
The project explores Rambo’s formative years as a U.S. Army Green Beret during the Vietnam War, positioning the film as a narrative prelude to First Blood. Sylvester Stallone, who originated the role across five features, is not involved with the prequel but has been informed of the casting, according to trade coverage.
Millennium executives have framed the film as a way to introduce the character to new audiences while honoring a long-running franchise rooted in David Morrell’s 1972 novel. Across five films released between 1982 and 2019, the series has generated more than $850 million worldwide, with Stallone starring in each entry and directing the 2008 installment.
Development on the prequel became public in May when Helander boarded the project, with Millennium taking the package to market and signaling a Thailand shoot. As of now, no release date has been set and distribution remains to be finalized.
Centineo, known to mainstream audiences for To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and for leading Netflix’s The Recruit, has been moving toward action roles on both film and television, including appearances in Black Adam and Warfare. The prequel places him in one of the most iconic action roles of the last half-century at a moment when studios continue to mine established IP with fresh casts and earlier timelines.
