The upcoming Rambo prequel, John Rambo, will take a grittier approach, with Sisu director Jalmari Helander describing it as "stripped down, raw and real".
The film revives Sylvester Stallone's iconic character in the origin story, a prequel to First Blood, starring Noah Centineo and set during Rambo's time with the Green Berets in Vietnam.
Helander revealed that production has begun in Bangkok and shared his vision for the film on social media.
"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 honour 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."
JOHN RAMBO — Now in Production. pic.twitter.com/UlnVY4kICe
— John Rambo Film (@JohnRamboFilm) January 29, 2026
The cast of John Rambo also features Yao, Jason Tobin, Quincy Isaiah, Jefferson White, and Tayme Thapthimthong.
Stallone originally portrayed the troubled veteran in five films, from 1982's First Blood to 2019's Rambo: Last Blood, and he had previously hoped to develop a movie exploring Rambo's origins, but the project never materialised.
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