Netflix Star to Replace Stallone as Rambo in Exciting Reboot!

John Rambo, one of Sylvester Stallone’s most iconic characters along with Rocky, and a legendary figure in action cinema, is slated to appear in a sixth film. However, this won’t be a sequel as some might expect, but rather a prequel focusing on the veteran’s early years.

Naturally, the role will be handed over to a younger actor for this installment, and it seems Noah Centineo is set to step in. According to Deadline, the actor, known for his roles in Netflix romances like ‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ and ‘Sierra Burgess Is a Loser’, and more recently proving his action chops in Netflix’s series ‘The Recruit’, is confirmed for the project, which will be directed by Jalmari Helander (known for ‘Sisu’ and ‘Big Game’).

This untitled prequel is scheduled to begin shooting in early 2026 in Thailand, with a script penned by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani, who also wrote ‘Black Adam’ featuring Noah Centineo as the superhero Atom Smasher. While specific plot details are still under wraps, it is known that the story will explore young John Rambo during the Vietnam War and delve into his formative experiences, highlighting the events that shaped his character.

Stallone’s Blessing on the Project

Although Sylvester Stallone is not directly involved in this new Rambo film, he has been kept in the loop about its development and was informed about the casting of Noah Centineo. Should the project materialize, it is easy to envision Stallone, who currently stars in the series ‘Tulsa King’, meeting with Centineo to offer some advice, especially since he has previously expressed his interest in a film about Rambo’s youth.

“I’ve always thought about Rambo at 16 or 17 – I hoped they would make a prequel – he was the best person you could find. He was the team captain, the most popular boy in school, a great athlete. He was like Jim Thorpe, and it was the war that changed him. If you had seen him before, he was like the perfect boy,” Stallone told Screen Rant in 2019.

As a reminder, the five Rambo films have collectively grossed $800 million worldwide, and a new installment could potentially push the franchise past the $1 billion mark. In the meantime, Noah Centineo will be seen in another action film, the upcoming ‘Street Fighter’ adaptation featuring Jason Momoa, expected to hit theaters in 2026.