Bangkok: Lionsgate announced the commencement of filming in Thailand for the origin story of John Rambo, directed by Jalmari Helander. Production is scheduled to take place across various locations in the country, including Bangkok, Krabi, Phang Nga, and Kanchanaburi.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the film features Noah Centineo in the lead role alongside Yao from "Sinners", Jason Tobin from "A Thousand Blows", Quincy Isaiah, Jefferson White, and Tayme Thapthimthong from "The White Lotus". The screenplay, co-written by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani, explores the early years of John Rambo, setting the action years before the 1982 film "First Blood" that starred Sylvester Stallone.

Director Jalmari Helander expressed his lifelong admiration for "First Blood", stating that it was a pivotal influence on his decision to pursue filmmaking. He described the new film as a stripped-down, raw survival story focusing on endurance, persistence, and lost innocence.

The production team includes producers Kevin King Templeton and Les Weldon, and Jonathan Yunger for Millennium Media, alongside Michael Disco and Angela Russo-Otstot for AGBO. Executive producers are Anthony and Joe Russo, Trevor Short for Millennium Media, and Dallas Sonnier and Amanda Presmyk for Bonfire Legend.

Late last year, Lionsgate secured a deal with Millennium Media to acquire worldwide rights to "John Rambo". The studio, which previously distributed the fourth and fifth Rambo installments in North America and holds UK rights to "Last Blood", also distributed earlier Rambo films across Latin America and Southeast Asia.