Quentin Tarantino has famously said that he will only make 10 films before retirement, and his long-rumored Rambo reboot could be his last. Tarantino has hinted at his interest in a remake of the 1982 Rambo movie First Blood, adapted from a David Morrell novel of the same name. However, with his restrictive ten films only rule well-established, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood being his ninth film, audiences are questioning whether a First Blood remake could be Tarantino’s last movie.
Tarantino has long said that he will stop at ten films, asserting he wants to end his career on a high note, and dragging his career out makes him less likely to do so. He fears his movies will get worse with time, stating, “I know film history and from here on in, filmmakers do not get better.” He also explains that placing a limit on how many movies he will make inspires him to make each one as good as it can be. Some have criticized this, arguing that he only says it for publicity. Others argue that he has technically already made ten films, but Tarantino counts both Kill Bill movies as one.
Now that Tarantino has shown interest in a First Blood remake, speculation has begun on whether it will be counted as his tenth and final film. In 2021, Tarantino explained that an adaptation of the novel First Blood would be a guaranteed “good movie” and he would want Adam Driver to play Rambo, along with Kurt Russell as the Sheriff. However, if he made the movie, it’s debatable if it would even count as his tenth movie. He counts the Kill Bill movies as one movie because it’s one story, so it's entirely possible Tarantino would not count a Rambo remake and adaptation as an original work.
Will Tarantino's Rambo Reboot Ever Happen?
That said, it’s unlikely that Tarantino's First Blood reboot will be made at all. The filmmaker has always placed an emphasis on originating his work, so a reboot film seems doubtful for the finale of his highly acclaimed, 30+ year career. Additionally, First Blood is not the first IP film that Tarantino has expressed interest in making, with a Tarantino Star Trek movie nearly being made but canceled in 2019. It’s unknown whether Tarantino has any real intention of remaking First Blood at all. As of now, the production of the film is nowhere near confirmed. It appears that it may be a case of Tarantino, like many other directors, simply expressing an interest in something rather than confirming any momentum in actual development.
The possibility of First Blood as Tarantino’s alleged final movie is a point of contention for his audiences. With Tarantino known for originality in his movies, the idea of an adaptation of an already established film may displease viewers, who enjoy the inventiveness of the director's work. Alternatively, because of Tarantino’s willingness to portray realistic violence, and his history of success in the action movie genre, some are excited about the possibility, and assert the First Blood remake should be Tarantino's last movie. Whether Rambo makes it to the big screen, and whether it actually is his final film, Quentin Tarantino aficionados expect that with his track record, whatever his next film may be is bound to be great.