Stallone Tried to Use AI to Become 18‑Year‑Old Rambo — Studio Passed and Noah Centineo Will Star
Sylvester Stallone recently said he wanted to use AI to portray an 18‑year‑old John Rambo, but a studio-backed prequel will instead move forward with a different actor and director.
Stallone’s AI idea and interview
In an interview on The Playlist’s Bingeworthy podcast, Stallone said he had pitched the idea of using AI to depict a younger Rambo. He added that studios reacted skeptically, and that people “thought I was crazy.”
Stallone also said, “AI is sophisticated enough to go through Saigon to see him at 18 years old and basically use the same image.”
Millennium Media’s Rambo prequel: cast and director
Millennium Media is advancing a Rambo prequel that will not use Stallone as a digitally de‑aged lead. Instead, the film will star Noah Centineo and be directed by Jalmari Helander, who directed Sisu.
Stallone commented on the challenge of replacing an iconic role: “It’s very, very hard,” and he added, “[Centineo] may do a stellar job, but you’re overcoming this because I went through it with Get Carter. Everyone loves the original, and then you’re always fighting that prejudice.”
Franchise context and recent reactions
For context, the original First Blood was released in 1982 and introduced John Rambo as a Vietnam veteran. Over time, the character has been used in several sequels and later films.
Critics and audiences have debated the direction of the franchise. For example, Rambo: Last Blood drew sharp criticism from some reviewers: Slate called it “a reprehensible, jingoistic disaster.” For details, see the Slate review linked below.
Separately, other films have used digital aging or de‑aging techniques; Stallone referenced examples when describing his idea. In addition, journalists and fans have compared different approaches to young‑self portrayals, including live actors and visual effects.
Sources and media links
Primary coverage comes from The Playlist interview on the Bingeworthy podcast. For further reading, see:
