Sylvester Stallone confirms return for John Rambo prequel

Sylvester Stallone is on board for John Rambo as an executive producer.

The 79-year-old action movie has served as a writer on the first five Rambo films and even directed 2008's Rambo, and while he won't appear on screen in the upcoming prequel - which is set before 1982's First Blood - he will still be heavily involved as Noah Centineo takes on the iconic role with Jalmari Helander directing.

In an Instagram video, Stallone said: "As you know, Rambo has been a huge part of my life, my career - but there's more to the story.

"There's the prequel, the beginning, and that's what's coming your way.

"I will serve as executive producer on this origin story. I couldn't be more excited, and the action in coming your way."

He added in the caption: "Rambo has been part of my life for a very long time. A character built on resilience, survival, and the scars of war. He’s meant a lot to me and to audiences around the world for decades.

"Now we’re going back to where his story begins. I’m excited to be executive producing @JohnRamboFilm, exploring the early chapter of the man before the legend."

Meanwhile Lionsgate is delighted to have the actor on board to help usher in a new era for the franchise.

In a statement, Adam Fogelson, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair, told The Hollywood Reporter: “Sylvester Stallone knows the character of John Rambo better than anyone, and Lionsgate has had the good fortune of partnering with Sly for more than 20 years on this legendary IP.

"His participation is the final, critical piece to John Rambo, and we’re thrilled to have his involvement.”

The screenplay has been written by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani, with filming currently underway in Bangkok, Thailand.

As well as Centineo in the lead role, the cast will also include Yao, Jason Tobin, Quincy Isaiah, Jefferson White and Tayme Thapthimthong.

The movie will follow Rambo's time in Vietnam with the Green Berets, and director Helander has insisted the prequel will be "stripped down, raw and real".

In a statement earlier this year, he said: "When I was 11, I saw First Blood for the first time, and it changed my life.

"Rambo wasn’t just a film to me - it stayed with me growing up and was a defining influence on why I wanted to become a filmmaker.

"As we begin production on the origin of John Rambo, we’re going back to the beginning. This is Rambo stripped down, raw and real - a survival story about endurance, persistence and lost innocence.

"It’s an honour to shape this next chapter with deep respect for the character and the legacy, and to bring audiences the start of John Rambo’s journey."