Sylvester Stallone recently opened up about a bold — and admittedly “crazy” — idea he once had: to make an AI-assisted prequel to First Blood in which he would play an 18-year-old John Rambo.
During an appearance on The Playlist’s Bingeworthy Podcast ahead of Tulsa King season 3, the Oscar-nominated action legend reflected on nearly six decades in Hollywood and shared the story of a project that never made it past the pitching stage. “I wanted to do a First Blood prequel where I played Rambo at 18,” Stallone said. “Everyone thought I was out of my mind.”
According to Stallone, his vision relied heavily on artificial intelligence technology that could de-age him convincingly for the role. “AI is sophisticated enough to go through Saigon and see him at 18 years old — basically using the same image,” he explained, imagining a storyline set more than a decade before the events of the 1982 classic. “So it isn’t as big a stretch as it sounds.”
The original First Blood, directed by Ted Kotcheff, follows Vietnam War veteran John Rambo as he drifts into a small town in Washington state after receiving devastating personal news. Mistaken for a vagrant and mistreated by the local sheriff, Rambo’s trauma resurfaces, leading to a violent confrontation that defined one of cinema’s most iconic antiheroes.
The film went on to launch a legendary franchise, spawning four sequels — First Blood Part II (1985), Rambo III (1988), Rambo (2008), and Rambo: Last Blood (2019). Stallone remains the only actor to have appeared in all five installments, cementing Rambo as one of his most enduring roles.
Stallone’s unmade prequel concept would have explored the origins of Rambo’s transformation — a glimpse into his youth before the war, his early ideals, and the experiences that forged his violent resilience. But despite the intriguing concept, studios weren’t convinced. “They thought I was crazy,” he recalled with a laugh, admitting that the idea was too ambitious — even for him.
Interestingly, the idea of a Rambo prequel has since been revived in a different form. Just last month, it was announced that Noah Centineo, best known for To All the Boys I Loved Before, has been cast as a young John Rambo in director Jalmari Helander’s upcoming film.
When asked about Centineo stepping into the combat boots of such an iconic figure, Stallone admitted the challenge would be immense. “It’s very, very hard,” he said. “He may do a stellar job, but I’ve been there. When I did Get Carter, people always compared it to the original. Everyone loves the first movie, and you’re always fighting that prejudice.”
Though Stallone’s AI-driven First Blood prequel may never happen, his creative ambition shows no sign of slowing. Even in his late 70s, the man behind Rambo and Rocky continues to imagine new ways to push cinematic boundaries — proof that his fighting spirit remains as fierce as ever.
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