Sylvester Stallone Wanted To Use AI to Play an 18-Year-Old Rambo in a FIRST BLOOD Prequel Film

Sylvester Stallone recently opened up about a wild idea he once pitched that would’ve seen him return to First Blood in a way no one expected. The actor revealed that he once wanted to use AI technology to de-age himself and play an 18-year-old John Rambo in a prequel film.

During an appearance on The Playlist’s Bingeworthy podcast while promoting Tulsa King Season 3, Stallone reflected on his six-decade career and dropped this fascinating nugget about his scrapped Rambo project.

“Everyone thought I was crazy,” he said, remembering the reaction from studio executives when he brought it up.

According to Stallone, the idea would’ve taken audiences back to Vietnam years before the events of the 1982 original. “AI is sophisticated enough to go through Saigon to see him at 18 years old and basically use the same image,” he explained. “So it isn’t as big a stretch.”

The original First Blood, directed by Ted Kotcheff, introduced audiences to John Rambo, a Vietnam vet struggling with PTSD who finds himself clashing with a small-town sheriff after being mistaken for a drifter.

The hostile encounter triggers Rambo’s war trauma, leading to the explosive action that defined the character. The movie went on to spawn four sequels, with Stallone reprising the role in First Blood Part II, Rambo III, Rambo, and Rambo: Last Blood.

That really is a crazy idea, and I’m not sure if he would’ve been able to actually effectively pull it off, but I kinda would’ve liked to see him try!

The prequel concept isn’t entirely dead though. Just last month it was announced that Noah Centineo (To All the Boys I Loved Before) has been cast to play a young Rambo in a new prequel film directed by Jalmari Helander (Sisu).

When asked about the challenges Centineo faces stepping into such an iconic role, Stallone had an honest take. “It’s very, very hard. He may do a stellar job, but I went through it with Get Carter – everyone loves the [first movie], and then you’re always fighting that prejudice.”

So while Stallone’s AI-assisted version of a Rambo origin story may never happen, fans will still get to see a younger take on the Green Beret soon. It just won’t be with Stallone digitally turned back into his 18-year-old self.