Sylvester Stallone is reportedly upset that Noah Centineo and not his longtime preferred choice, Ryan Gosling, has been cast as the young John Rambo in the upcoming prequel John Rambo. A source revealed to RadarOnline.com,
Sly had his eye on Ryan for years to take the part, and thinks he would have been a far better fit than Noah. He’s basically raging it’s going ahead without a Hollywood heavyweight attached. Sylvester was raging when he found out the studio had gone with Noah instead. He felt Ryan brought a depth and edge that would have honored the legacy, while Noah – in his eyes – just doesn’t carry the same gravitas. It’s not personal against Noah, but Sly’s fiercely protective of Rambo.
The reboot, which explores Rambo’s early years in Vietnam, begins production in early 2026 in Thailand, under the direction of Jalmari Helander. Stallone, who originated the role in First Blood (1982) and its sequels, was informed of the casting but is not actively involved in the project.
Stallone repeatedly and without hesitation championed Gosling for the part. Only time will tell what direction the franchise is truly headed in.
Why Sylvester Stallone Will Not Return to Rambo
Sylvester Stallone’s absence from the reboot marks the first time a Rambo project will move forward without his involvement. After five films spanning nearly 40 years, he closed the chapter with Rambo: Last Blood in 2019, a film he described as his farewell to the role. At the time, the actor made it clear that his age and the physical demands of playing a battle-scarred veteran meant it was time to step away. In a 2016 Variety interview, he said,
The heart’s willing, but the body says, ‘Stay home!,’ It’s like fighters that go back for one last round and get clobbered. Leave it to someone else.
While he had previously revisited his other franchise, Rocky, through the Creed spinoffs, Stallone emphasized that Rambo’s journey was complete. As he also further stated,
You know when you realize there’s nothing more to pull out? As an action film, I was very satisfied that it dealt with the Burmese situation. I said, “This is probably going to be the last decent film of this genre that I’m going to do as a solo act.” When that was accomplished, I never felt the same willingness to do it again. There’s nothing left. When they asked me to do another Rambo, I said, “If I can’t do better than I did last time, and I can’t, then why?”
The decision to end his role, however, hasn’t softened his feelings about how the franchise should evolve. He has spoken passionately about Rambo as a symbol of survival and trauma rather than just a standard action hero.
That protective stance has made the new reboot a sore spot. By centering on a younger version of Rambo, the project effectively wipes the slate clean, aiming to retell the character’s origins with a new face and voice. For many fans, however, that direction risks losing the emotional weight he built into the role over decades.
But Stallone’s departure does not mean retirement from Hollywood; he remains active with projects like Tulsa King.
Sylvester Stallone Wanted Ryan Gosling to Carry the Rambo Legacy for Years
Ryan Gosling as Dan Dunne in Half Nelson | Credits: THINKFilm
For years, Stallone has publicly expressed his belief that Ryan Gosling would be the ideal actor to take over the Rambo mantle. Their connection dates back to a dinner where Gosling revealed he had idolized the character since childhood, going as far as dressing like Rambo at school. On The Tonight Show, Stallone revealed,
(Ryan) goes, ‘I was fascinated by Rambo, and I used to go to school dressed as Rambo and people would chase me away and I still didn’t stop.’ He just kept saying that he had a lot of affiliation with Rambo, and I thought, ‘This is interesting. If I ever pass the baton, I’ll pass it on to him because he loves the character.’
Gosling himself also has long admitted to Jay Leno in 2011 (via Far Out Magazine) that First Blood left a lasting impact on him, even joking about reenacting Rambo scenes as a kid. And the Barbie actor’s proven track record in balancing emotional vulnerability with grit, as seen in films like Drive, The Place Beyond the Pines, and most recently The Fall Guy, it’s easy to see why Stallone was convinced Gosling could bring a fresh edge to the franchise.
Despite this endorsement, the decision ultimately rested with producers, who favored a different creative direction. The result has now left Stallone reportedly disappointed.
Inside the Studio’s Decision to Cast Noah Centineo and What to Expect from John Rambo
Noah Centineo in To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before | Credits: Netflix
As per reports, Noah Centineo has been chosen to lead John Rambo, a prequel to the 1982 film First Blood. Both Deadline and Variety reported that To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before actor was cast and might play a young version of John Rambo, with the story set during the Vietnam War.
Jalmari Helander (Sisu) will direct the project, which is written by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani. Production is scheduled to begin in early 2026 in Thailand, and Lionsgate is expected to distribute the film.
John Rambo will follow the character’s origin before the events of First Blood. Stallone had previously discussed the idea of a prequel, saying he envisioned Rambo as a popular, all-American athlete whose experiences in war reshaped him into the figure audiences first encountered in 1982. No further updates are available at the moment.
Rambo franchise Box Office breakdown: (as per Box Office Mojo)
FilmYearDirectorBox OfficeFirst Blood1982Ted Kotcheff$125 millionRambo: First Blood Part II1985George P. Cosmatos$300.4 millionRambo III1988Peter MacDonald$189 millionRambo2008Sylvester Stallone$113 millionRambo: Last Blood2019Adrian Grünberg$91.5 million
All Rambo movies are available to rent on Apple TV+
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