Sylvester Stallone envisioned utilizing AI de-ageing technology for a prequel to his iconic Rambo franchise, which ultimately did not materialize. The 79-year-old actor, who has portrayed John Rambo since the release of First Blood in 1982, intended to explore the character’s origins in a new film. Stallone revealed his concept during an interview with Screen Rant, expressing a desire to reframe Rambo’s backstory.
In the interview, Stallone stated, “I wanted to do the first AI … not retroactive … but I wanted to rewrite history of the earlier Rambo.” He elaborated on his vision, aiming to portray Rambo as “the nicest guy in the school, the valedictorian, the prom king.” He imagined a narrative where Rambo’s transition into a hardened soldier begins with an unexpected deployment to Vietnam, which would depict his experiences of torture and loss.
Despite his enthusiasm, Stallone acknowledged that the concept did not progress as planned. “We procrastinated too long and they took it over,” he remarked, expressing hope for future projects involving the character.
Future of Rambo on Screen
Although Stallone’s prequel is no longer in development, the character of John Rambo is set to return in a new film titled John Rambo. This prequel to First Blood will feature Noah Centineo in the title role and will focus on Rambo’s time serving with the Green Berets in Vietnam. Industry insiders indicate that principal photography is scheduled to commence in early 2026 in Thailand.
The film will be directed by Jalmari Helander, who is known for his work on Sisu. The screenplay is crafted by writers Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani. It is reported that Lionsgate is likely to be the primary distributor for the film.
Stallone previously indicated his interest in passing the Rambo legacy to Ryan Gosling, particularly after learning that the actor had a strong affinity for the character while growing up. During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Stallone noted a conversation with Gosling where the latter shared how he often dressed as Rambo in school. “If I ever pass the baton, I’ll pass it on to him because he loves the character,” Stallone said.
As the evolving narrative of Rambo continues, fans await the next chapter in the story of this legendary action hero, even as technological advancements in filmmaking open up new possibilities for storytelling.
