During the Cannes Film Festival last year, the prequel movie, John Rambo, was officially announced. Now, the film has secured a theatrical release date, too. While the story will once again focus on John Rambo, the upcoming installment is expected to explore an entirely different chapter of his life. 

The film will be the sixth installment in the legendary franchise that catapulted Sylvester Stallone to Hollywood action icon fame. The franchise began with First Blood in 1982, and its success spawned four sequels: Rambo: First Blood Part II, Rambo III, Rambo, and Rambo: Last Blood, which came out in 2019.

Now, the action is set to return to theaters once again when the prequel arrives.

Lionsgate, which acquired the rights to future John Rambo films, has now announced the release date for the highly anticipated prequel. It is set to arrive on June 4, 2027. The film will arrive in the crowded summer box office season, placing it amid several major studio releases. 

Among its biggest competitors are Disney’s Star Wars: Starfighter, scheduled to debut on May 28, and Warner Bros.’ upcoming Ocean's prequel, which is set for release on June 25 of the same year. So, there will be action and tension both on screen and at the box office when the film arrives in theaters. As for the production, it reportedly began earlier this year in Thailand and wrapped up in March.

What remains to be seen is the creative direction of the film. The story is set to take place before the events of First Blood and will explore John Rambo’s early years. Directed by Jalmari Helander, who is known for his work in Sisu, the film will follow Rambo as a Green Beret in the rainforests of Southeast Asia during the Vietnam W**.

"Spielberg’s Best Movie in 20 Years"- First 'Disclosure Day' Reactions Have Hollywood Stunned

Bringing a younger John Rambo to the screen will depend not only on the story but also on the cast tasked with carrying forward such an iconic legacy.

Noah Centineo as John Rambo: Sylvester Stallone was remarkable as John Rambo. Now, it is time for The Recruit actor, Centineo, to carry the torch as the younger version of Rambo.

David Harbour as commanding officer Sam Trautman: Richard Crenna played the role of Trautman in the original Rambo movies. In the upcoming movie, the Stranger Things actor Harbour will play the role.

Yao: Malaysian-Filipino actor Thomas Pang is well known for his role in the Oscar-nominated film, Sinners. He will star in John Rambo. However, there is no detail about Yao’s role in the film.

Jason Tobin, Quincy Isaiah, Jefferson White, and Tayme Thapthimthong are also part of the cast. James Franco will also return to the big screen with an undisclosed role in the movie. Now, all eyes will be on whether John Rambo can successfully reimagine one of Hollywood’s most iconic action heroes for a new generation. 

'Supergirl’s' Milly Alcock Shares How an Emotional On-Set Reaction Left a Lasting Impact

Will you watch John Rambo when it arrives in June next year? Let us know in the comments.