In The Latest Strange Hollywood Decision, Noah Centineo Will Star In A Rambo Prequel

EXCLUSIVE: Following word this past spring that a package was coming together for a Rambo prequel, Millennium Media looks to have its man as sources tell Deadline that Noah Centineo is attached to star in John Rambo. Sisu director Jalmari Helander is set to direct from a screenplay by writing duo Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani.

Sources say that the package still has a couple of hurdles to overcome, but things are headed in the right direction with hopes to shoot in the fall in Thailand. Insiders also add that while no deals are in place, Lionsgate is the front-runner to land the package. The studio not released the past two Rambo pics and also has a relationship with Helander having worked with him on Sisu.

What a horrible, HORRIBLE call this is. 'First Blood' is a bona fide American classic that expertly wove action with drama and an a veteran mistreatment story which was and unfortunately still is prevalent in our society. The franchise deifnitly got watered down a little as they switched to more over-the-top action in the sequels, especially with Rambo fighting along with the Taliban (Parody) but the point stands. So if you're going to touch on a beloved piece of Americana, you better start out with the best casting possible. I do not thing Noah Centineo is the first person that comes to mind. 

I'll grade it based on two different avenues. The first is if they're making this movie in the same vein as 'First Blood'. If that is the case, I don't think this is a smart casting. There are a lot of serious actors out there that could crush that element without a problem. A guy who has had a similar start to him in teeny movies, Jacob Elordi, is a great example. He's got the dramatic chops and also the physical presence to fit the role (remember, Rambo isn't THAT jacked in 'First Blood')/

If they're making this more akin to the sequels? It's probably not the worst. Throw Centineo on that hollywood steroid cycle, get him jacked up and have him going through the jungles hunting Viet Cong. 

Based on who is involved so far, I'm imagining this is something closer to the latter. Jalmari Helander did an awesome job with 'Sisu', which is very Rambo-ish in it's execution except the protagonist is killing Nazis. The writing duo is very different, though. Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani's last movie was 'Black Adam' (which also starred Centineo) and they don't really have any movies under their belt applicable to this genre. 

I'm not opposed to a revival of Rambo but I don't think I'm sold.