Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo prequel idea expands on the best part of John Rambo's First Blood story arc while also allowing Rambo: Last Blood to truly be “Last Blood.” The Rambo franchise got off to a strong start in 1982 with First Blood, the only Rambo movie rated Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. For better or for worse, the ensuing sequels prioritized graphic, high-octane action, although 2019's Rambo: Last Blood made at least some effort to integrate meaningful character development.
The character development seen in Rambo: Last Blood also came with some heavy implications for the titular Vietnam War vet, but there are other reasons why Sylvester Stallone’s prequel idea would be much better than making Rambo 6. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actor said, "I wanted to do [a Rambo prequel] like a Ken Burns documentary on Vietnam, where you drop young Rambo in there, and he's this outgoing guy, football captain, and then you see why he becomes Rambo." Stallone has the right idea: a prequel exploring John Rambo's tragic backstory would return the character to his grounded roots and build on the legacy of the well-regarded first movie.
How A Rambo Prequel Could Make The Other Rambo Movies Better
Having a better understanding of how John Rambo transformed from “outgoing guy” to a literal killing machine would add much-needed context and depth to all the Rambo movies. Sylvester Stallone’s prequel idea would benefit First Blood the most, however, because it would finally do justice to a character who originally served as a trailblazer for onscreen depictions of PTSD and war trauma. First Blood stands out from the rest of the Rambo franchise, but it’s also a stark contrast from the typical action flick of the eighties.
While stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Wesley Snipes were gleefully dropping a plethora of puns and bodies during the eighties, the first Rambo movie was an enigma that would have been even more distinct if First Blood’s original ending had been kept in. The gut-wrenching police station monologue in First Blood's third act was not just one of Sylvester Stallone's finest acting performances, but it brutally subverted the idea that a male musclebound action protagonist couldn’t – or wouldn’t – care or feel about anything. First Blood rejected that notion with John Rambo’s breakdown, and Sylvester Stallone’s prequel idea would further reveal how and why Rambo got to that point.
Rambo 6 Shouldn't Happen - Last Blood Made It Clear That Story Is Done
It's also true Rambo: Last Blood was very clear about John Rambo's story being complete. Not only did the movie’s final scene heavily imply that Rambo might bleed to death on his rocking chair, but the end credits featured a poignant montage of all the previous Rambo movies. Even if Rambo killed all those people and survived, there isn’t really anywhere else for his story to go except into the past. Sylvester Stallone did mention in his interview that “a modern-day story where I pass the torch” might also be in the works. It’s too soon to make a definitive verdict on that idea, but Rambo: Last Blood was a decent ending for a played-out franchise. The best idea left is a Rambo prequel.