John Rambo(2027)

The director has been obsessed with the character since he was 11. Jalmari Helander (Sisu) said watching First Blood at age 11 "changed my life" and was the defining reason he wanted to become a filmmaker. When he finally got the job, he described shooting in the Bangkok jungle as physically brutal, citing the oppressive heat, sweat, and swarms of mosquitoes.

David Harbour steps into Richard Crenna's shoes as Colonel Trautman. Harbour plays Colonel Samuel R. "Sam" Trautman, the Green Beret mentor role originated by Richard Crenna in the 1982 original. It's a major legacy casting choice, as Trautman was Rambo's only father figure across the first three films.

James Franco joined the ensemble midway through production. While Noah Centineo and Harbour were announced early, James Franco was added to the cast in May 2026 after filming had already begun in Bangkok. The cast also includes Yao (Sinners), Jason Tobin (A Thousand Blows), Quincy Isaiah (Winning Time), Jefferson White (Yellowstone), and Tayme Thapthimthong (The White Lotus).