New Rambo movie: Release date for the prequel has been set

The new "Rambo" movie starring Noah Centineo is highly anticipated – and now the release date has been set! The prequel "John Rambo" will hit theaters on June 4, 2027, according to Deadline. Film studio Lionsgate has thus chosen a highly competitive release date. A week earlier, "Star Wars: Starfighter" starring Ryan Gosling will premiere – one of the year's potential biggest blockbusters. Two weeks after the release of "John Rambo," the animated film "Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse" hits theaters. So Rambo will be surrounded by stiff competition. But this also shows that Lionsgate clearly has great confidence in the reboot of the action franchise.

In addition to "John Rambo," Lionsgate has a number of other potential hits in the pipeline for next year. According to Variety, the studio will release films such as the thriller "Day Drinker" starring Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz, Mel Gibson's biblical drama "The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One," and "The Housemaid's Secret." The latter is the sequel to the box office hit "The Housemaid" starring Sydney Sweeney, which grossed approximately $400 million at the global box office.

In the new film, Noah Centineo becomes John Rambo

The "Rambo" prequel is set before the events of the original 1982 film and is intended to serve as an origin story. In other words: We'll see how John Rambo became the man we know from the previous films. The 30-year-old Noah Centineo steps into the shoes of the now 79-year-old Sylvester Stallone. The actor has made a name for himself as the protagonist of the Netflix spy series "The Recruit," among other roles.

Joining Noah Centineo is David Harbour. The "Stranger Things" star plays Major Trautman, a character already familiar from earlier "Rambo" films. In previous installments of the action series, Trautman served as a sort of mentor to Rambo. He was originally played by Richard Crenna, who passed away in 2003 at the age of 76. A prominent new addition was recently announced in the form of James Franco. The Hollywood star, who appeared as Harry Osborn in the three "Spider-Man" films alongside Tobey Maguire, is set to take on a small role in "John Rambo." Additionally, Yao, Jason Tobin, Quincy Isaiah, Jefferson White, and Tayme Thapthimthong are part of the cast.

Sylvester Stallone is also on board

And what about Sylvester Stallone? He is also involved in the new "Rambo" film – though behind the scenes. The Hollywood star is on board as an executive producer. On social media, Stallone commented on this with the following words:

"Rambo has been part of my life for a very long time. A character built on resilience, survival, and the scars of war. He's meant a lot to me and to audiences around the world for decades. Now we're going back to where his story begins. I'm excited to be executive producing @JohnRamboFilm, exploring the early chapter of the man before the legend."

The director of John Rambo has also been confirmed

Alongside Sylvester Stallone, "Avengers" directors Anthony and Joe Russo are also serving as executive producers. Michael Disco, Avi Lerner, Angela Russo-Otstot, Kevin King Templeton, Les Weldon, and Jonathan Yunger are serving as producers. The director of the new "Rambo" film is Jalmari Helander, known for his two "Sisu" action films. Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani wrote the screenplay.

Rambo is one of the most famous action heroes in cinema history. The first film, released in 1982, is based on David Morrell's novel "First Blood" and tells the story of how Vietnam War veteran John Rambo is harassed by police officers in a small provincial town. Eventually, a fight for survival ensues. Two sequels followed in the 1980s. After a long hiatus, another sequel was released in 2008, which Stallone directed. The latest installment in the action series, "Rambo: Last Blood," was released in 2019.