Rambo's New Face: Noah Centineo Takes Over the Iconic Role
Sly Stallone's Shocking Choice: Noah Centineo as Rambo?
In a move that has left fans and insiders stunned, Sylvester Stallone's iconic character, John Rambo, is set to be reimagined with a new face - none other than Netflix heartthrob Noah Centineo! The 29-year-old actor, known for his swoon-worthy roles in To All the Boys I've Loved Before and The Recruit, has been cast as the muscle-bound soldier in the upcoming origins film, John Rambo.
According to sources close to the production, Lionsgate is in talks to land the movie, with Finnish director Jalmari Helander at the helm. The screenplay is penned by writing duo Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani, who are known for their work on The Mauritanian. But what's got everyone talking? Noah Centineo as Rambo! That's right; the actor who made his name playing charming love interests in teen rom-coms is set to take on one of Hollywood's most iconic action heroes.
When First Blood hit theaters in 1982, it was a massive commercial success, despite receiving mixed reviews from critics. The franchise went on to spawn four sequels, with Stallone reprising his role as Rambo in each installment. But now, the legendary actor is taking a step back, and Noah Centineo is ready to take the reins.
We spoke to insiders who revealed that Stallone was not initially thrilled about Centineo's casting. "He wasn't the first choice," our source dished. "In fact, Sly had already spoken to Ryan Gosling about playing Rambo!" The actor had even publicly expressed his interest in Gosling taking on the role during an appearance on Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show.
Gosling, of course, is best known for his roles in La La Land and Barbie, but Stallone seemed smitten with the idea of him donning the iconic character. "I met him at a dinner, and we're opposites," Stallone quipped. "But he told me that he used to dress up as Rambo in school, and I thought, 'This is interesting.' If I ever passed the baton, I'd pass it on to him because he loves the character."
So, what does this mean for Noah Centineo's chances of success? We spoke with a Hollywood expert who weighed in on the actor's chances. "Noah has proven himself as a talented young actor with his roles in To All the Boys and The Recruit," our insider said. "He's got charm, he's got talent, and he's got the action hero credentials to take on a character like Rambo."
The film is set to follow a young John Rambo during the Vietnam War, and sources close to production revealed that filming is slated to begin in early 2026 in Thailand. But what about Stallone? Will he make an appearance in the movie? Our source remained tight-lipped but hinted that the iconic actor may have a cameo role.
This isn't the first time Rambo has been reimagined, of course. Last year's Rambo: Last Blood was met with scathing reviews from critics and fans alike. In fact, bestselling author David Morrell, who wrote First Blood in 1972, publicly expressed his disappointment with the film on social media.
"I agree with these RAMBO: LAST BLOOD reviews," Morrell tweeted. "The film is a mess. Embarrassed to have my name associated with it."
When we spoke to Morrell about the movie, he revealed that he had high hopes for the film but was ultimately disappointed by Stallone's final product. "I felt degraded and dehumanized after I left the theater," he confessed. "Instead of being soulful, this new movie lacks one. I felt I was less a human being for having seen it, and today that's an unfortunate message."
The question on everyone's mind is: will Noah Centineo be able to bring a new sense of soulfulness to the character? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure - this reimagining of Rambo is set to shake things up.
Sources:
- Deadline
- Newsweek
- The Scholarly Note
