Rambo Prequel Director Reveals a ‘Happy’ Origin for the Action Hero

Director Jalmari Helander, known for the action film Sisu, is set to helm the upcoming Rambo prequel, titled John Rambo. In a recent interview, Helander revealed that the film will depict a surprisingly content and younger version of the iconic action hero, played by Noah Centineo, before the traumatic events that shaped him. The project aims to explore the character’s origins while delivering the high-octane action the franchise is known for.

A Different Starting Point for John Rambo

Helander explained that the prequel will begin with John Rambo in a positive place, a stark contrast to the tortured soul audiences met in 1982’s First Blood. “Of course, it’s different, because we’re gonna start in a place where everything is basically pretty okay for Rambo,” the director stated. The core narrative will focus on the pivotal question: what happened to this soldier to turn him into the man seen in the original film?

Exploring the Vietnam Backstory

The filmmaker confirmed that John Rambo will delve into the character’s time during the Vietnam War. These experiences are central to understanding his transformation. Helander emphasized that while it is an origin story, it will not be a straightforward drama about a mental breakdown but will simultaneously function as a full-fledged action movie.

Helander’s Action Credentials

Jalmari Helander’s suitability for the project is reinforced by his work on the Sisu films, which feature a lone, relentless protagonist often compared to Rambo and John Wick. The first Sisu film was a critical success, and its sequel, Sisu: Road to Revenge, is scheduled for release on November 21, 2024.

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