David Harbour Enlists as Major Trautman in JOHN RAMBO Prequel Alongside Noah Centineo
Lionsgate’s upcoming Rambo prequel just added some serious grit to its lineup. David Harbour has officially signed on for John Rambo, stepping into the role of Major Trautman, the commanding officer who shapes the future war machine played by Noah Centineo.
If you’re familiar with the legacy of the franchise, you already know this is a key role with a lot of weight behind it.
John Rambo is being directed by Jalmari Helander and aims to rewind the clock long before the chaos of First Blood. This origin story digs into the early life of Rambo, exploring the experiences that shaped him into the hardened, haunted soldier fans first met decades ago.
The script comes from Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvan, and it’s pulling inspiration from the original 1972 novel by David Morrell. That book introduced the world to John Rambo, a character who would go on to become a defining action icon.
Centineo leads the cast as the younger version of Rambo, a role made legendary by Sylvester Stallone starting with First Blood in 1982. Joining them is a solid ensemble that includes Yao from Sinners, Jason Tobin (A Thousand Blows), Quincy Isaiah (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty), Jefferson White (Yellowstone), and Tayme Thapthimthong (The White Lotus).
Harbour taking on Major Trautman is a big deal. The character was originally played by Richard Crenna, who portrayed the Vietnam veteran mentor across multiple films including First Blood, Rambo: First Blood Part II, and Rambo III.
Crenna’s version of Trautman was calm, authoritative, and often the only one who truly understood Rambo. Seeing Harbour step into that dynamic opens the door for a fresh take while honoring what came before.
As for Stallone, he’s still very much involved. The longtime face of the franchise has signed on as an executive producer, continuing his connection to the character he helped define across five films, including Rambo (2008) and Rambo: Last Blood (2019).
Production is already underway in Bangkok, Thailand, with Lionsgate set to handle distribution.