James Franco has officially joined the cast of the upcoming John Rambo movie, adding another major name to the action franchise’s new chapter.
The film stars Noah Centineo as a younger version of John Rambo and will explore the character’s life before the events of First Blood, the movie that first introduced audiences to the iconic soldier originally played by Sylvester Stallone.
Franco is reportedly playing a villain in the movie, although details about his character are still being kept secret. David Harbour has also joined the cast as Major Trautman, Rambo’s commanding officer and longtime mentor in the franchise.
The prequel is being directed by Jalmari Helander, best known for the action film Sisu. Production on the movie has already wrapped in Thailand.
Several other actors are also part of the cast, including Yao, Jason Tobin, Quincy Isaiah, Jefferson White, and Tayme Thapthimthong.
News of Franco’s involvement comes as the actor continues making public appearances at the Cannes Film Festival. During the event, Franco hinted that he had recently completed work on a major studio movie, which many now believe was John Rambo.
The actor has kept a relatively lower profile in Hollywood in recent years following misconduct allegations connected to his former acting school. Franco denied the accusations but previously acknowledged that the claims raised serious concerns about behavior in the entertainment industry.
The screenplay for John Rambo was written by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani. The film is being produced by Lionsgate, Millennium Media, Templeton Media, and AGBO.
Executive producers on the project include Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, alongside Sylvester Stallone.
While an official release date has not yet been announced, the film is expected to arrive sometime in late 2026 or 2027.
