AGBO Joins Lionsgate and Millennium on John Rambo
AGBO, the artist-led studio founded by Anthony and Joe Russo, is producing John Rambo, the next chapter in the legendary action franchise, in partnership with Lionsgate and Millennium Media. Noah Centineo (The Recruit) is in final negotiations to star.
Set during the Vietnam War and filming in Thailand, John Rambo will explore the formative experiences that shaped one of cinema’s most memorable action heroes. The film will be directed by acclaimed Finnish filmmaker Jalmari Helander (Sisu) from a screenplay by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani (The Mauritanian, Black Adam).
Angela Russo-Otstot and Michael Disco will produce for AGBO, alongside Kevin King Templeton, Les Weldon, and Jonathan Yunger for Millennium Media. Anthony and Joe Russo will serve as executive producers.
Lionsgate recently acquired global distribution rights to the film and is launching international sales this month at AFM. Production on John Rambo is expected to begin in early 2026.
“AGBO’s entire team, led by Anthony and Joe, are creative innovators who are delivering the most emotionally satisfying and inventive action-led storytelling in theaters around the world today,” said Charlotte Koh, Executive Vice President, Acquisitions & Co-Productions, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group.
“Combining our longstanding partnership with Millennium Media with AGBO’s groundbreaking body of work and Jalmari’s singularly visceral directing talent, we are confident that John Rambo will be an event film that is a must-see for action fans.”
“Rambo is one of the most enduring and iconic figures in action cinema and exploring the origins of that mythology is an incredibly exciting opportunity,” said Angela Russo-Otstot, Chief Creative Officer, AGBO. “Everyone knows John Rambo is a relentless force of nature, but what truly distinguishes him are his principles, his code, his unerring sense of what’s right, and his willingness to risk everything to defend it.
“Jalmari brings the raw action and emotional depth needed to pay homage to this legendary character. We’re thrilled to collaborate with our partners at Lionsgate and Millennium to support his vision and introduce a new generation to Rambo.”
Helander, best known for the breakout action hit Sisu, has established himself as one of the most distinctive voices in modern action cinema, fusing muscular set pieces with sharp cinematic flair.
For AGBO, John Rambo extends the studio’s deep roots in redefining modern action storytelling. From Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which reimagined action in the Marvel Cinematic Universe through a grounded, 1970s-style spy-thriller lens, to The Gray Man, a global espionage epic featuring inventive, location-driven action and one of Netflix’s Top 10 most-watched films of all time, the Russos have consistently pushed the boundaries of cinematic spectacle.
AGBO has also produced Extraction, one of the top franchises on Netflix of all time, which has expanded into multiple expressions, including a new series that just started production.
Lionsgate continues its leadership in the genre with franchises such as John Wick and The Expendables, reinforcing the studio’s longstanding commitment to high-impact, filmmaker-led action storytelling.
