In a bold casting move, To All the Boys star Noah Centineo is reportedly in talks to portray a young John Rambo in an upcoming prequel to the iconic action franchise. According to industry reports, Millennium Media has tapped the 27-year-old actor to headline the origin story, which will explore Rambo’s early days during the Vietnam War. The project marks a dramatic departure for Centineo, best known for romantic comedies, as he steps into the combat boots made famous by Sylvester Stallone.
Unexpected Casting for an Iconic Role
Director Jalmari Helander (Sisu) will helm the film, with screenwriters Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani (The Mauritanian) crafting the script. While official confirmation is pending, Deadline reports negotiations are “going in the right direction.” Centineo’s potential casting signals a deliberate shift in portraying a younger, less battle-hardened version of the character before he became the traumatized, muscle-bound warrior Stallone embodied across five films starting in 1982.
Behind the Scenes of the Prequel
Lionsgate is emerging as the frontrunner to distribute the film, leveraging its history with the franchise after handling Rambo V: Last Blood (2019) and Rambo (2008). Despite the momentum, producers remain tight-lipped about specifics. What is confirmed is the prequel’s core premise: delving into John Rambo’s formative experiences as a Green Beret in Vietnam, exploring the events that forged the haunted hero introduced in David Morrell’s novel First Blood. This origin approach mirrors successful franchise reboots like Furiosa or The King’s Man.
The Legacy Centineo Inherits
The Rambo franchise has grossed over $800 million globally since Stallone’s breakout performance transformed the character into a cultural symbol of survival and resistance. Notably, Stallone – currently starring in Paramount+’s Tulsa King – is not attached to the prequel in any capacity, marking the first major installment without his involvement. This places significant pressure on Centineo and the creative team to honor the character’s brutal intensity while establishing a new chapter for modern audiences. The prequel aims to answer lingering questions about Rambo’s military background and the roots of his unparalleled combat skills and psychological scars.
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