Lionsgate has entered into a major agreement with Millennium Media that hands the studio worldwide rights to the upcoming John Rambo prequel and future installments of The Expendables franchise. The deal, revealed ahead of the American Film Market, marks a significant partnership between two action powerhouses, consolidating ownership and creative oversight of two of modern cinema’s most recognizable action brands under one studio roof.
Under the terms of the agreement, Lionsgate will handle global distribution for the in-development John Rambo origin film while also acquiring long-term rights to develop new feature films, television projects, and other derivative works based on The Expendables property. The collaboration reinforces Lionsgate’s position as a leading home for franchise-driven action entertainment, expanding its growing portfolio of recognizable cinematic universes.
The John Rambo prequel, currently titled simply Rambo: First Stage, is set to explore the formative years of the character that became synonymous with the late-20th-century action genre. Finnish director Jalmari Helander, best known for Sisu, is attached to direct, with screenwriting duties handled by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani. Rising star Noah Centineo is reportedly in final negotiations to play the young John Rambo, portraying the future soldier in his pre-Vietnam years. Sylvester Stallone, who originated the role in 1982’s First Blood, is not expected to reprise his character but will remain acknowledged as the creative originator of the role.
Representatives for both studios confirmed that the deal encompasses worldwide distribution, streaming rights, and development control for all forthcoming projects within the two franchises. Lionsgate COO Brian Goldsmith and President of Motion Picture Group Nathan Kahane led negotiations on behalf of the studio, while Millennium Media CEO Jeffrey Greenstein and chairman Avi Lerner represented Millennium. Both sides issued statements emphasizing their shared commitment to honoring the legacy of these properties while reinvigorating them for new global audiences.
Millennium Media has produced four Expendables films since 2010, featuring a rotating ensemble of action icons including Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, and Megan Fox. The most recent entry, Expend4bles (2023), was distributed by Lionsgate and performed modestly at the global box office. The new arrangement formalizes a deeper relationship between the two companies, granting Lionsgate full stewardship over the franchise’s cinematic and television future. This includes potential spin-offs, streaming adaptations, and licensing opportunities across digital platforms.
For Rambo, the partnership revives one of the most influential action sagas in film history. The five-film series, which began with Ted Kotcheff’s First Blood, became a cultural phenomenon and helped define the 1980s action era. Stallone’s portrayal of the haunted Vietnam veteran turned reluctant warrior shaped an entire subgenre of films about lone heroes and postwar trauma. The prequel will reportedly focus on Rambo’s early adulthood and military training, exploring the origins of his discipline and psychological scars before his deployment to Vietnam. Though story specifics are still under wraps, production sources indicate that the new film will balance realism with emotional intensity, grounding the mythos in the character’s formative years rather than replicating the large-scale spectacle of later installments.
Lionsgate’s acquisition of The Expendables rights suggests a broader strategy to strengthen its action catalog at a time when franchise branding remains the cornerstone of studio economics. The studio’s distribution infrastructure and long-standing international relationships make it a natural fit for Millennium’s properties, which have historically relied on global markets for profitability. With streaming platforms and theatrical partners eager for recognizable IP, both Rambo and The Expendables remain valuable cornerstones capable of sustaining cross-platform storytelling in an evolving marketplace.
Industry insiders view the agreement as a mutually beneficial alignment that allows Millennium to focus on production while Lionsgate leverages its marketing and worldwide distribution expertise. The companies have previously collaborated on titles such as Rambo: Last Blood and The Hitman’s Bodyguard series, both of which performed strongly in key overseas territories. The new deal expands that relationship into long-term franchise management, effectively making Lionsgate the global home for these properties moving forward.
As of now, the John Rambo prequel is in active pre-production with filming expected to begin in 2026. No release date has been announced, but industry sources anticipate a late-2027 worldwide rollout depending on production schedules. Lionsgate and Millennium are expected to announce additional casting and creative updates in the coming months, alongside possible television tie-ins for The Expendables universe.
With this agreement, Lionsgate secures control over two of the most enduring names in action cinema — franchises that have collectively grossed more than $2 billion worldwide and continue to command strong fan followings. The partnership reflects a renewed investment in legacy storytelling for the global market, ensuring that both Rambo and The Expendables remain central to the evolution of modern action filmmaking.
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