Rambo Prequel to Take More Adventurous, Lighter Approach Than Recent Installments
A new Rambo prequel, starring Noah Centineo as the iconic John Rambo, is aiming for a tonal shift, moving away from the darker themes of the last two Sylvester Stallone films and embracing a more adventurous spirit. filmmaker Jalmari Helander is directing the project, which will explore rambo’s formative years during the vietnam War.
This marks a critically important departure for the franchise,which has seen its tone fluctuate across five films starring Stallone. While First Blood offered a somber and introspective look at a veteran struggling with PTSD, subsequent installments leaned into action and patriotic fervor before returning to darker dramatic territory. Helander intends this prequel to reignite a sense of youthful adventure associated with the character.
“It won’t be as dark as the last two Rambos… It’s going to be a little more adventurous, and I hope to inspire a new generation of 10-year-olds to go into the forest to play Rambo,” Helander told Dexerto.
Currently in pre-production, with “hard prep” underway, the film is slated to begin filming in January. Helander recently traveled to Bangkok in planning for the shoot, signaling an imminent start to production. The prequel promises a fresh perspective on Rambo’s origins, potentially broadening the franchise’s appeal to a new audience while offering a different experience for longtime fans.
