‘Stranger Things’ star joins Noah Centineo’s ‘John Rambo’ in major role — here’s what we know so far
David Harbour is stepping into battle mode. The ‘Stranger Things’ actor has joined ‘John Rambo’, a new action project backed by Lionsgate and Millennium Media, as per The Hollywood Reporter. The film is being directed by Jalmari Helander, who is known for his rough, no-frills style in movies like ‘Sisu’. This new chapter in the ‘Rambo’ franchise goes backward instead of forward. Rather than continuing the story, ‘John Rambo’ focuses on the early days of the character, before he became the drifter introduced in ‘First Blood’. That film, starring Sylvester Stallone, kicked off a franchise that ran through the 1980s and beyond as it turned John Rambo into one of the most recognizable action heroes on screen.
Taking on the younger version of Rambo is Noah Centineo, which might surprise fans who are used to seeing him in lighter roles. But this version of the character isn’t the hardened loner yet. He’s still in the middle of a war, figuring out who he is. The film reportedly places him deep in a jungle conflict, long before he reaches the phase of isolation that people associate with the character. Now, this is where Harbour comes in. He’s been cast as Major Trautman, a crucial figure in Rambo’s life. Trautman isn’t just another officer barking orders. He’s the one person who understands Rambo and, at times, keeps him grounded. He's almost a mentor, sometimes even a voice of reason when things get out of hand. In the original trilogy, that role was played by Richard Crenna.
Production on the film has already wrapped, with shooting taking place in Thailand earlier this year. That location choice makes sense, given the jungle setting related to Rambo’s early military days. While there’s still no official release date, the fact that filming is done suggests an announcement may be made soon. The script comes from Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani. On the production side, several companies are involved, including Templeton Media and AGBO.
Producers include Kevin King Templeton, Les Weldon, and Jonathan Yunger, along with Angela Russo-Otstot and Michael Disco. And yes, Stallone is still connected to the project, but not in the way fans would hope. He’s on board as an executive producer, alongside Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, and Trevor Short, Dallas Sonnier, and Amanda Presmyk. As for Harbour, he’s been having a solid run lately. He recently earned praise for playing Floyd Smernitch in ‘DTF St. Louis,’ and he’s not slowing down anytime soon. He’s got a few projects lined up that are already in post-production. He will soon be seen in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, ‘Violent Night 2’, and ‘Evil Genius’.
