Rambo: First Blood

Rambo: First Blood is an upcoming American action thriller film, based on the 1971 novel First Blood by David Morrell, serving as the second adaptation following the 1981 film adaptation, and is a reboot of the Rambo film series. Directed by Robert Rodriguez, the script was co-written by Quentin Tarantino, Rodriguez, Racer Max, Kurt Wimmer, and Todd Daggerhart. The film stars Adam Driver as the titular Rambo, a hitchhiking veteran who goes on a PTSD-induced rampage in a small town after being provoked by the corrupt police force. Kurt Russell and Javier Bardem also star. It is set to be released by Lionsgate Films' Summit Entertainment banner on October 22, 2025.

Premise
Having endured the horrors of the War in Iraq, a soldier known only as Rambo has been finally discharged. Searching for peace to ease his post-traumatic stress disorder, he goes on a spontaneous hitchhiking trip. Upon arriving at the secluded town of Prey, Alabama, he is unjustly arrested by the Sheriff, and sent to jail where the officers treat him poorly. Suddenly, Rambo's survival instincts kick in, and begins going on an animalistic spree, killing anyone that gets in his way. With the town on lockdown, the general of Rambo's former unit steps in to help stop the rampage and prevent the veteran from being killed.

Cast

 * Adam Driver as Rambo
 * Kurt Russell as Sheriff Teasle
 * Javier Bardem as Colonel Sam Trautman

Production
In June 2021, Quentin Tarantino optioned the idea of helming a new film adaptation of David Morell's 1971 novel First Blood as a non-auteur "good movie", similar to David O. Russell's approach to The Fighter (2010), with Adam Driver as Rambo and Kurt Russell as Sheriff Teasle; Tarantino stated his film would adapt the novel, and not be a remake of the film adaptation First Blood (1981).

In April 2022, Tarantino had pitched his first draft to Millennium Media, who had ended the initial Sylvester Stallone-led Rambo film series with Rambo: Last Blood (2019). The following month, Tarantino chose not to helm the project, instead choosing The Movie Critic (TBA) to be his last directed feature, and approached longtime friend and collaborator Robert Rodriguez to take over. That September, Millennium and New Regency announced their partnership in rebooting the Rambo franchise with the now-titled Rambo: First Blood, and confirmed Rodriguez was to direct as well as produce rewrite the script with his son Racer Max, Stallone also set to produce the new film, while Tarantino was attached as executive producer.

In January 2023, Javier Bardem was cast as Colonel Sam Trautman. That March, Kurt Wimmer and Todd Daggerhart were announced to pen new drafts of the screenplay, after previously working on Millenium's Expend4bles (2023), while Rodriguez and Max focused on other efforts.

Filming was set to begin that summer, but was delayed due to the Hollywood double strike.

Release
Rambo: First Blood is set to be released theatrically by Summit Entertainment thorugh Lionsgate Films on October 22, 2025, the 14th anniversary of the 1982 film.