James Franco has secured a role in Lionsgate's upcoming feature film "John Rambo," marking his first major Hollywood studio production since 2019.
The movie serves as a "First Blood" origin story, starring Noah Centineo as a young version of the Vietnam veteran character originally made famous by Sylvester Stallone.
>>> Morena Baccarin Cast as Sorceress in 'Masters of the Universe' Film
Production and Release Details
Production for the film officially commenced in January 2026 and concluded filming earlier this month, with a theatrical release projected for 2027.
The prequel is directed by "Sisu" filmmaker Jalmari Helander, based on a screenplay written by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani.
Stallone is serving as an executive producer for the project, which also features David Harbour, Yao, Jason Tobin, Quincy Isaiah, Jefferson White, and Tayme Thapthimthong.
Franco initially disclosed his participation in an unnamed studio project during the Cannes Film Festival while speaking to Deadline.
"It won't be ready for this summer, but my guess is it will be end of this year or spring-summer 2027," Franco said.
During the festival, the 48-year-old actor dismissed assertions that he had been intentionally avoiding the public eye or Hollywood in recent years.
"I've been here the last three or four years running, selling things, and they treat me well, and I get to go and see great movies," he said.
When asked whether he felt the industry or public had treated him unfairly following his past legal disputes, Franco expressed a forward-looking perspective.
"I don't know. What am I going to do?
I just go forward and try to live a positive life," he said.
The casting marks a shift back to mainstream cinema for Franco, whose career slowed significantly after several women accused him of sexual misconduct in January 2018.
The allegations focused on his behavior toward female students at his now-defunct acting school, Studio 4, leading to a lawsuit that Franco and his co-defendants settled in 2021 for more than $2.2 million without admitting any wrongdoing.
