‘John Rambo’ – Production Has Begun on Brand New Prequel Movie from ‘Rare Exports’ Director

Pop culture icon John Rambo is headed back to the big screen with feature film John Rambo, and this time it’s an origin story prequel with a new actor taking over the classic role.

Bloody Disgusting has learned that John Rambo, the highly anticipated origin story to the legendary franchise, has commenced production in Bangkok, Thailand this week.

Noah Centineo (the upcoming Street Fighter) will star as the one-man fighting force, under the direction of the acclaimed, visceral Jalmari Helander (Rare Exports, Sisu).

The film’s screenplay is by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani (Black Adam, The Mauritanian), and the film will be distributed in theaters by Lionsgate.

John Rambo takes audiences back, years before First Blood, diving deep into the roots and experiences that forged one of the big screen’s most enduring and complex characters.

Centineo will be joined by an exciting ensemble cast including Yao (Sinners), Jason Tobin (“A Thousand Blows”), Quincy Isaiah (“Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty”), Jefferson White (“Yellowstone”), and Tayme Thapthimthong (“The White Lotus”).

Director Jalmari Helander said in a statement this afternoon, “When I was eleven, 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.”

Check out a first-look teaser image for the new John Rambo movie below.