A new era for the legendary action hero has begun, as production is officially underway on John Rambo, the origin story of one of cinema’s most iconic characters.
The film stars Noah Centineo as a young Rambo, with director Jalmari Helander (Rare Exports, Sisu) promising a raw, stripped-down survival story rooted in grit, trauma, and transformation.
Director Jalmari Helander Reflects on First Blood
The announcement was accompanied by a stark black-and-white poster featuring a battered hand gripping military dog tags — a powerful callback to the character’s Vietnam War past — and a personal statement from Helander reflecting on the impact of 1982’s First Blood.
“When I was eleven, I saw First Blood for the first time, and it changed my life,” Helander wrote. “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.”
A Stripped-Down Survival Story
Helander emphasized that this new film won’t be a modern action spectacle, but a character-driven origin story grounded in emotional weight and survival.
“This is Rambo stripped down, raw, and real — a survival story about endurance, persistence, and lost innocence,” he said.
JOHN RAMBO — Now in Production. pic.twitter.com/UlnVY4kICe
— John Rambo Film (@JohnRamboFilm) January 29, 2026
Plot to Explore Early Life of the Icon
John Rambo will explore the roots of the tortured soldier before he became the one-man army made famous by Sylvester Stallone.
While plot details are under wraps, it’s expected the film will dive into Rambo’s early life, his military experience, and the emotional scars that shaped his worldview.
Noah Centineo Steps Into the Role
This marks the first Rambo project without Stallone, who last appeared in Rambo: Last Blood (2019). Noah Centineo, known for his work in Black Adam and The Recruit, steps into the role with a chance to redefine the character for a new generation.
Centineo is also starring in the upcoming Street Fighter movie as Ken Masters.
Director Helander has earned praise for his ability to blend stylized action with emotionally driven storytelling, and fans of the franchise will be watching closely to see how he reinterprets the legacy of a cinematic icon.
