Alright, action movie aficionados, get this! The folks over at Millennium Media (behind Rambo: Last Blood and The Expendables) dropped a bombshell at the Cannes market. Deadline just revealed that Millennium is making a John Rambo prequel that’s gonna take us way back to the beginning of the First Blood saga!
Major Talent
Jalmari Helander, the mastermind behind the seriously fantastic film Sisu, which is getting a sequel, is set to direct! The talented duo of Rory Haines & Sohrab Noshirvani, who also worked on Black Adam and The Mauritanian, have penned the script, so you know it will be good. Check out our interview with the director for insight into Helander’s mind and details about Sisu.
The production crew is looking solid, too. Kevin King-Templeton from Templeton Media, Les Weldon, Jonathan Yunger, and Avi Lerner are all on producing duties. Trevor Short, Dallas Sonnier, and Amanda Presmyk from Bonfire Legends are executive producers.
Now, the big question: what about Sylvester Stallone? Apparently, he knows about the project, but he’s not currently involved. However, Deadline reports that the producers are open to him joining if a fit role arises.
A Return to Vietnam
This origin story will dive deep into the Vietnam War era and show us a young John Rambo in his early days. The plan is to start filming this bad boy in Thailand come October, so things are moving fast!
Jonathan Yunger sounds super hyped about this. “We are thrilled to introduce a fresh new chapter to the Rambo legacy. This project is a tribute to one of the best franchises in movie history that will appeal to both longtime fans and new audiences alike,” he said. “With Jalmari Helander at the helm — a filmmaker of exceptional vision and energy — we’ve found the perfect director to deliver a high-concept action-packed experience.”
Helander himself is clearly a massive fan. “I have been the biggest fan of Rambo since the age of 11,” he added. “It is so surreal to be in a situation where I can actually make my own Rambo movie. The chain of events that got me here makes, in a fantastic way, my whole childhood make sense. I can’t wait to bring the greatest action hero back to the big screen where he belongs.” You can feel the passion!
The Rambo franchise kicked off in 1982 with First Blood, based on the novel by David Morrell. We then got Rambo: First Blood Part II in 1985 and Rambo III in 1988. Rambo followed in 2008, and Rambo: Last Blood in 2019—all starring the legendary Sylvester Stallone.
It sounds like Millennium Media is ready to take us on a wild ride back to Rambo’s beginnings. With the talent involved, this prequel could be something truly special. Get ready to see how the legend was forged!
