10 Actors Who Could Play Young Rambo in Exciting Prequel

Intriguingly enough, I find myself pondering over numerous gifted actors who could magnificently embody the youthful John Rambo in the forthcoming prequel of the legendary Rambo series. This new chapter marks the sixth installment in the iconic Sylvester Stallone action saga that commenced with First Blood in 1982, chronicling the thrilling escapades of the Vietnam War veteran as he battled through adversity from 2019’s Rambo: Last Blood, where his character valiantly fought against a ruthless cartel to rescue his adopted daughter. The upcoming prequel film is slated for direction by Jalmari Helander, director of Sisu, and scripted by the talented duo, Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani, from The Mauritanian.

The upcoming film before the “Rambo” series will delve into the character’s experiences during the Vietnam War. Although specific plot points are yet to be revealed, it’s expected that the storyline will primarily focus on his time as a prisoner of war, an essential part of his background that occurred from 1971 to 1972. However, since Rambo was portrayed as having served in multiple deployments, his war involvement actually stretched from 1966 to 1974. Given that Rambo is fictitiously born in 1947, the prequel will likely feature a lead actor who can convincingly portray someone between the ages of 19 and 27 or has the ability to convincingly play those ages.

10. Fred Hechinger

He Could Capture Rambo’s Arc Perfectly

Fred Hechinger, who’s often recognized for portraying endearing clowns in films like “Thelma” and “Hell of a Summer,” might not initially seem fitting to take on the role of a younger version of Sylvester Stallone’s action icon. Yet, it’s worth mentioning that the prequel is likely to focus on an optimistic young John Rambo being transformed into the tough-as-nails action hero from “First Blood,” as a result of his military experiences.

Hechinger skillfully portrays his characters with a dual nature, as many of his apparently charming roles have been revealed to possess a harsher side that often transforms into full-blown villainy. This is evident in his performances as Dmitri Kravinoff in “Kraven the Hunter”, Emperor Caracalla in “Gladiator II”, and Ethan Russell in “The Woman in the Window”.

9. Sam Nivola

Rambo’s Loss Of Innocence Could Be Well-Served By The White Lotus Star

Sam Nivola, son of Emily Mortimer and Alessandro Nivola, is still new in the acting world and hasn’t had his chance to shine in action roles. Similar to Fred Hechinger, the characters he has portrayed thus far – Will Winbury from “The Perfect Couple” and Lochlan Ratliff in “The White Lotus” season 3 – have an exterior that appears innocent but conceal a more complex inner world. This intricate depth could make him an excellent fit for bringing the younger Rambo to life on screen.

8. Ty Simpkins

The Insidious Star Has The Intensity Required For Rambo

Ty Simpkins has quite a bit of experience in franchise filmmaking, with his most prominent roles being characters from well-established series like playing Harley Keener in Iron Man 3 and Gray Mitchell in Jurassic World. Yet, it’s his continuous role as Dalton Lambert in the Insidious series that truly demonstrates his acting capabilities akin to Rambo. In 2023’s Insidious: The Red Door, he once again embodied Dalton, demonstrating that he retains the intensity needed for a film about the Vietnam War.

7. Tanner Buchanan

The Cobra Kai Star Is Familiar With Onscreen Fighting

Tanner Buchanan, recognized for his character as Robby Keene in Cobra Kai, demonstrates fighting skills on screen that make him a strong candidate for the role of Rambo. This is due to his six-season portrayal as the son of martial artist Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and student of his rival Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio). Since Rambo character usually has longer hair, Buchanan’s hairstyle, which is often similar in length, could provide an additional advantage when it comes to makeup transformations to resemble a younger version of Stallone.

6. Tom Blyth

The Billy The Kid Star Already Has A Prequel Under His Belt

Tom Blyth, currently portraying Billy the Kid in the MGM+ Western series, has previously appeared in a significant prequel of a popular franchise. He took on the role of a younger version of Donald Sutherland’s character, President Coriolanus Snow, in the 2023 film “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” The transformation of his idealistic character into a villain in that movie could potentially mirror John Rambo’s storyline. Moreover, his proficiency in maintaining the essence of an existing character is evident. Not long ago, he finished filming for a significant role in the adaptation of the video game “Watch Dogs,” which presumably necessitated honing his action skills.

5. Rohan Campbell

He Has Already Played A Similar Role In A Major Horror Movie

Beyond his role as Frank Hardy in Hulu’s The Hardy Boys, Rohan Campbell is often recognized for portraying the controversial character Corey Cunningham in Halloween Ends. Opinions differed greatly about the character, but Corey’s transformation from a seemingly ordinary “neighbor boy” to a psychopathic killer could potentially reflect the expected evolution of the main character in John Rambo. Campbell has consistently demonstrated his dedication to genre acting, with appearances in 2025’s The Monkey and the forthcoming remake of Silent Night, Deadly Night.

4. Corey Mylchreest

His Look And His Shakespeare Training Could Make Him A Good Fit

In simpler terms, despite Corey Mylchreest being English, his striking resemblance to a young Sylvester Stallone might work to his advantage, making him stand out from the crowd. Although he’s not typically associated with action roles, having gained fame as the young George III in the prequel series “Queen Charlotte,” his background in Shakespearean theater could enable him to bring a deep emotional depth to the role that would be captivating.

3. Alex Wolff

His Ample Horror Experience Could Benefit The War Movie

Similar to Rohan Campbell and Ty Simpkins, Alex Wolff might benefit significantly from his extensive background in horror films over action ones. His prior horror performances, such as playing Peter Graham in Hereditary, Trent Cappa in Old, and Reuben in A Quiet Place: Day One, could aid him in portraying authentically the torment of being a prisoner of war and the profound scars that experience leaves on John Rambo.

2. Noah Centineo

He Has The Right Look And Action Chops

A performer similar to a young Sylvester Stallone, Noah Centineo from To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, not only shares physical resemblance but also has a rich background in action roles. He showcased this expertise by appearing in secondary parts for the 2019 Charlie’s Angels remake and the 2022 film Black Adam. Additionally, he starred as the main character in the Netflix action-comedy series The Recruit, which aired over two seasons from 2022 to 2025.

1. Jonah Hauer-King

The Up-And-Coming Star’s Career Is On The Perfect Path For Rambo

Jonah Hauer-King is a promising contender for portraying Sylvester Stallone’s younger self. Not only does he share some physical resemblance with the Academy Award-nominated actor, but he is also an emerging talent who could generate interest in the production. Following his breakout performance as the legendary character Prince Eric in the 2023 live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid, Hauer-King continued to shine in the Peacock drama series The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be making an appearance in the upcoming sequel of ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’, and also in an unnamed White House thriller by the two-time Academy Award winner, Kathryn Bigelow – similar to how Tom Blyth has taken on the role of Coriolanus Snow in ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’. This career path could potentially set me up for another peak in my career with the ‘Rambo’ prequel.

2025-05-17 00:12