Sylvester Stallone's AI Plan for a Rambo Prequel Sparks Controversy
Sylvester Stallone's AI-Generated Rambo Revival Sparks Outrage and Excitement
The Hollywood veteran is at it again, but this time, his ambitious plan to revive one of his signature characters has raised eyebrows in the industry. Sylvester Stallone, 79, has revealed that he wants to use artificial intelligence (AI) to bring a new spin to the iconic John Rambo character, and fans are both intrigued and appalled by the idea.
In an exclusive interview with the Bingeworthy podcast on Thursday, Stallone spilled the beans about his collaborators' initial skepticism. "Everyone thought I was crazy," he confessed. It seems that even his team couldn't fathom the notion of using AI to reimagine Rambo at a younger age for a prequel film. But Stallone is adamant that this isn't just some wild fantasy; it's a carefully crafted plan.
According to Stallone, the AI technology has advanced to the point where it can accurately recreate the character from a completely different era. "AI is sophisticated enough to go through Saigon and see him at 18 years old," he explained. "And basically use the same image – so it isn't as big a stretch." In essence, Stallone believes that AI has reached a level of maturity where it can convincingly portray a younger version of Rambo.
But here's the kicker: Noah Centineo, the heartthrob from Netflix hits like To All the Boys I've Loved Before and The Recruit, will be taking on the role of the iconic character. Stallone acknowledged that this would be a significant challenge for the 29-year-old actor, who has been typecast in romantic comedies.
"It's very, very hard," Stallone admitted, citing his own experience with remakes as an example. He recalled how difficult it was to remake Get Carter (2000), which originally starred Michael Caine. "He may do a stellar job, but you're overcoming this because I went through it with Get Carter," Stallone said, emphasizing the prejudice that comes with stepping into an established role.
The prequel film, titled John Rambo, is being directed by Jalmari Helander and written by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani. According to sources close to the project, production was set to begin in Thailand early next year, but it's unclear whether this will still happen.
As fans eagerly await the release of the film, they're also curious about the storyline. It seems that the movie will focus on a teenage Rambo fighting in the Vietnam War. Yes, you read that right – 18-year-old Rambo would be taking on the horrors of war. The five movies in the Rambo franchise have collectively grossed over $800 million worldwide, so there's no shortage of enthusiasm for this ambitious project.
But Stallone isn't just a passive observer; he's been instrumental in bringing this vision to life. In fact, he previously spoke with The Hollywood Reporter in 2022 about the prospects of reviving the character. "I think it's going to happen," he said at the time. And when asked what direction the film would take, Stallone revealed that his plan was to create a Ken Burns-style documentary on Vietnam, where young Rambo is introduced as an outgoing football captain who eventually becomes the iconic warrior we know and love.
However, it seems that this vision has been tweaked to fit the modern audience's tastes. According to sources, the new film will pass the torch from Stallone to Centineo, marking a significant departure from the original plan.
As for what this means for fans of the franchise, only time will tell. But one thing is certain: Sylvester Stallone is always pushing the boundaries and taking bold risks in his career. And who knows? Maybe this AI-generated prequel will be just what the Rambo franchise needs to breathe new life into a beloved character.
With Stallone currently starring in Tulsa King on Paramount+, it's clear that he's still got plenty of tricks up his sleeve. Will John Rambo live up to expectations, or will it fizzle out like so many other reboots and remakes? One thing is for sure – with the king of action films behind the wheel, you can bet your life it'll be an unforgettable ride.
Sources:
- Stallone's interview on Bingeworthy podcast
- Deadline (thescholarlynote.com)