Lionsgate has acquired the rights to the upcoming Rambo sequel and The Expendables franchise, with Noah Centineo in final talks to star in the former as a younger version of the legendary action hero.
As reported by Variety, the studio has acquired the rights to develop and produce “all derivative works, including future film and television productions” of The Expendables franchise, the ensemble action franchise consisting of four films spanning 2010 to 2023, alongside the distribution rights to John Rambo, the upcoming prequel and sixth instalment of the iconic action movie franchise began in 1982.
Additionally, Lionsgate has also confirmed previous reports that Centineo, who is known for his roles in the 2022 Netflix series The Recruit and the 2018 romance comedy To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, is in final negotiations to portray a younger version of the iconic hero John Rambo, who was played by superstar Sylvester Stallone in all prior films in the franchise.
“This deal expands Lionsgate’s portfolio of genre-defining action franchises and reinforces our commitment to delivering world-class IP across multiple platforms,” said Lionsgate COO Brian Goldsmith in a statement. “We’re excited to reimagine both The Expendables and Rambo across film and television —and with John Rambo, we’re bringing together a bold creative team to reinvent a classic character for a new generation of fans.”
Jalmari Helander, director of 2023’s Sisu, is set to helm John Rambo, with the film’s script written by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani. Although plot details remain under wraps, the movie is set to be the origin story of Rambo and covers his involvement in the Vietnam War. Original Rambo actor Stallone is reported to be aware of the prequel and Centineo’s role, but is not currently involved with the film.
No news has been announced about a potential next chapter in The Expendables franchise, although this new deal with Lionsgate probably won’t change the well-established franchise too much. Debuting in 2010, the series is known for paying homage to blockbuster action films of the late 90s as well as former action stars, with most entries featuring an ensemble cast including Stallone, Jason Statham (The Transporter), Dolph Lundgren (Rocky IV), Jet Li (Romeo Must Die) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (Terminator franchise).
Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.
Si Jia
