Upcoming Rambo origin movie starring Street Fighter actor will begin filming this week

1. Entertainment
2. Movies
3. Action Movies

Upcoming Rambo origin movie starring Street Fighter actor will begin filming this week News By Nick Staniforth published 31 January 2026

The name's Rambo. John J. Rambo.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Getty Images/Paramount Pictures) Share Share by:

• Copy link
• Facebook
• X
• Whatsapp
• Pinterest
• Flipboard
• Email

Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google

Noah Centineo is an incredibly busy bee this year. Besides promoting Street Fighter, which is starting to gain momentum in anticipation of him taking to the screen as Ken, and Netflix nabbing his mech-sized movie, Gundam, which will see him star opposite Sydney Sweeney, he’s now headed to Thailand to get to work on John Rambo, the prequel that will explore the origins of Sylvester Stallone’s bandanna-wearing one-man-army.

Bloody Disgusting reports that following the release of the recent teaser poster (see below), filming will start this week in Thailand, with the director of the Sisu movies, Jalmari Helander, calling the shots. The new film, which was written by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani, will explore how the man from First Blood drew his…uh, first blood, we’re guessing?

Helander has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he’s the perfect pick to helm the project, having shown what he can do with a lone hero against an army of unprepared soldiers. What will be interesting is seeing if Centineo can handle a blade and a bow like the original hero, known for eating things that would make a billy goat puke.

You may like

• Rambo prequel director says his new action movie will feature a "different" version of the action hero as it explores how he became the character we see in First Blood
• Noah Centineo close to boarding Gundam movie with Sydney Sweeney
• Street Fighter movie release date, trailer, cast, plot, and everything else we know about the upcoming video game movie

In a statement that accompanied the poster, Helander wrote, “This is Rambo stripped down, raw, and real—a survival story about endurance, persistence, and lost innocence. It’s an honor 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/UlnVY4kICeJanuary 29, 2026

In November 2025, Helander provided a more detailed overview to GamesRadar+ regarding what to expect in the new film and how distinct the prequel will be from the other instalments. "Of course, it's different, because we're gonna start in a place where everything is basically pretty okay for Rambo," Helander tells GamesRadar+. "He's happy and younger and all that, because we are telling the origin story. What would happen to him? Why did he become that kind of dude that we've all seen in First Blood? So it's different."

Joining Centineo on the first action-packed step will be Sinners star, Yao, as well as Jason Tobin (Warrior, A Thousand Blows), Quincy Isaiah, Jefferson White (Yellowstone), and Tayme Thapthimthong (The White Lotus). Currently, there’s no confirmed release date for the film just yet, but we can only hope Helander, Centineo, and the rest of the crew bring the carnage when young John J. Rambo finally is fit for combat in the future. While we wait, check out our list of the films we’re most excited about in 2026 here.

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Nick StaniforthSocial Links NavigationContributing Writer

Nick is a freelancer whose work can be found at Screen Rant, The Digital Fix, and Looper. He loves movies, TV, DC, and Marvel. He also believes that the best Robin Hood is still a talking fox.

Show More Comments

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Logout Read more Rambo prequel director says his new action movie will feature a "different" version of the action hero as it explores how he became the character we see in First Blood    Noah Centineo close to boarding Gundam movie with Sydney Sweeney    Street Fighter movie release date, trailer, cast, plot, and everything else we know about the upcoming video game movie    First Street Fighter movie trailer is so campy, I'm starting to think it might actually work    5 years after it was announced, the live-action Gundam movie finds home at Netflix    The Running Man star Glen Powell says Top Gun: Maverick prepared him to lead Edgar Wright's action-packed Stephen King adaptation: "Don't take any shortcuts"    Latest in Action Movies Avengers: Doomsday merch may have just revealed our first real look at Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom    Taking our Jurassic Park quiz will prove how roar-some you are (sorry)    James Gunn says "the universe is rife" with false Batman: Brave and the Bold information    Chloé Zhao says Eternals wasn't high on Marvel's priority list: "It [was] only on their list of potential players"    Split Fiction game director reveals he's seen the first version of the movie adaptation's script    James Gunn defends The Flash writer set to pen the DCU's upcoming Batman movie    Latest in News Upcoming Rambo origin movie starring Street Fighter actor will begin filming this week    Ex-Skyrim lead guesses The Elder Scrolls 6's story "will leave it undefined or leave it as neither side really won"    As Highguard claws its way up to "Mixed" Steam reviews, devs add 5v5 mode in response to player feedback    Japanese shooter studio was skeptical of Sony's PS1, but not for the same reason as everybody else: "They've got beards"    "We got rid of attributes in Skyrim and you know who complained? Almost nobody": Former Bethesda dev on streamlined RPGs    N64 dev spent 2 years making games for the ill-fated 64DD add-on, only to have Nintendo continually say they sucked    GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1. 1This hidden role board game makes me feel like a puppet master, so Traitors fans should listen up
2. 2Cairn review: "This climber has a grip on me – even when it loses its footing with awkward systems, the challenge remains surmountable"
3. 3The Doom Arena Board Game is hell on Earth (in the best way) | Preview
4. 4This award-winning board game is a five star must-have
5. 5Code Vein 2 review: "This vampire take on Elden Ring almost works, but the dungeons themselves lack bite"

1. 1Return to Silent Hill review: "Neither an impressive adaptation nor coherent enough to act as a standalone film"
2. 228 Years Later: The Bone Temple review: "The wildest and weirdest entry into the franchise yet"
3. 3Avatar: Fire and Ash review: "Still a technical marvel, with some of the year's best action filmmaking"
4. 4Five Nights at Freddy's 2 review: "We have waited two years for a Five Nights at Freddy's 1.5"
5. 5Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"

1. 1Wonder Man review: "A low-key gem that's up there with the MCU's best"
2. 2Starfleet Academy review: "It may feel a little different to what we're used to, but this is Star Trek through and through"
3. 3A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review: "This Game of Thrones spin-off is a heartfelt and fun return to Westeros"
4. 4Stranger Things season 5 finale review: “Shows off both the best and the worst of Hawkins”
5. 5Stranger Things season 5, Volume 2 review: “All set up for a finale that has so much to deliver”