The Expendables 5 And A Rambo Prequel Just Got A Major Boost
Lionsgate has struck a rights deal with Millennium Media, clearing the way for The Expendables 5 and a Rambo prequel to move forward. The action franchises just took a major step toward their next chapter.
Lionsgate just made a move that could actually put some muscle back into two bruiser franchises at once: The Expendables and Rambo. No, nothing is greenlit today, but this is the kind of rights deal you do right before you start loading cameras.
What Lionsgate actually bought
The studio cut a deal with Millennium Media that splits into two lanes:
- For The Expendables: Lionsgate now controls the ability to develop and produce new movies and TV projects under that banner. The agreement also stretches beyond screens to cover things like video games and other immersive, cross-platform stuff.
- For Rambo: Lionsgate picked up worldwide distribution rights to the prequel film currently in the works, titled 'John Rambo' — which would be the sixth entry in the series.
So... is Expendables 5 happening?
There is no official Expendables sequel or series announced today. But Lionsgate would not acquire the keys if they planned to let the engine idle. Realistically, this sets the table for whatever comes next, whether that is Expendables 5 or a different spin on the brand.
The Rambo prequel: what we know
The project is titled 'John Rambo' and is set before the original films, following a young John Rambo during the Vietnam War. Jalmari Helander — the Finnish filmmaker behind 'Sisu' and 'Big Game' — is directing. Casting is just getting started, with the goal (per Deadline) to begin principal photography in Thailand later this year.
Sylvester Stallone, who made the character iconic, is aware of the project but is not involved right now. Still, nobody is ruling him out.
'The door is open' for Stallone if he wants in.
Tiny naming footnote: yes, 'John Rambo' was also used as the title for the 2008 film in some regions. Different movie, same name, new timeline.
Where the franchises stand
- The Expendables has four films since 2010, with the most recent, 'Expend4bles', releasing in 2023. Across the series, the squad has packed in a who’s-who of action stars: Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Randy Couture, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Yu Nan, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terry Crews, Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson, Megan Fox, and more.
- Rambo currently spans five films. It started with 1982's 'First Blood' (adapted from David Morrell's 1972 novel) and most recently delivered 'Rambo: Last Blood' in 2019, directed by Adrian Grunberg, with Stallone playing Rambo as an older man.
Bottom line
No flashy announcements yet, but Lionsgate now has the authority to actually make new Expendables film/TV and to distribute the Rambo prequel worldwide. If you want fresh entries from either franchise, this is exactly the kind of behind-the-scenes paperwork you were waiting for.