The long-rumored John Rambo prequel just leveled up. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Stranger Things favorite and MCU alum David Harbour has officially stepped into the role of Colonel Samuel Trautman.
Richard Crenna left some massive combat boots to fill. Trautman was more than a commanding officer; he was the only man Rambo trusted. But if anyone has the grit and energy to pull it off, it’s Harbour.
The plot and details on the prequel is a tightly held secret. All we know is John Rambo is “origin story that takes place before the events of First Blood, the Sylvester Stallone-starring movie that kicked off the Rambo franchise, John Rambo stars Noah Centineo as John Rambo, who will one day become a man who just wants to be left alone but here is a soldier fighting a war in the jungle.”
Jalmari Helander (Sisu, Sisu: Road to Revenge) is behind the camera. If you saw Sisu, you know Helander doesn’t do “subtle.” Expect visceral, over-the-top action that honors the franchise’s peak ’80s energy.
Filming has already wrapped in Thailand, which means Harbour’s casting was also a closely held secret.
I’m a bit skeptical of 80s reboots, but with Stallone giving his stamp of approval and the addition of a powerhouse like Harbour, this might actually capture the raw intensity that made us love the franchise forty years ago.
I’m keeping a close eye on this one. As Trautman would say, “I didn’t come to save Rambo from you. I came to save you from him.” Let’s hope the movie lives up to that legacy.
