Last month, while promoting hisRockyspinoffCreed,Sylvester Stalloneconfirmed thatwritinghad begun onRambo: Last Blood, thefifth and finalentry in the series. Now comes word fromDeadlinethat Fox has closed a development deal for a TV show based on the series titledRambo: New Blood. AndSylvester Stallonemay return to reprise his iconic role as Vietnam vetJohn Rambo.
Sylvester Stalloneis producing thisaction series, which is directly based on the franchise that kicked off in 1982 withFirst Bloodand carried through three more sequels includingRambo: First Blood Part IIin 1985,Rambo IIIin 1988 andRamboin 2008. At this time, it isn’t known ifSylvester Stallonewill appear on the show, or if John Rambo will be played by someone new. The character will be prominently featured in what is described as a father-son drama. Sources close to the project say that there is a deal in place for Sly to act as well as oversee the story lines that will be in play.
The main plot will focus on John Rambo’s son, and their complex relationship. J.R. Rambo is an ex-Navy SEAL, a character not found in any of the movies. He will serve as the audience’s way into this new iteration of the series. And his actions will pay homage to what his dad did in the past. John Rambo is called a key player in the action. And ifSylvester Stallonedoes reprise his role, it won’t be in cameo capacity, such as whatEddie Murphydid in theBeverly Hills CopTV show, which never went to series on CBS. That project focused primarily on Axel Foley’s son, withEddie Murphyto only make occasional appearances, and not in every episode.
Jeb Stuart, who has the original 1988Die HardandHarrison Ford’s The Fugitive on his resume, is writing the series, which is coming from Entertainment One and Avi Lerner’s Millennium Films. Nu Image/Millennium Films began developing a Rambo TV series in 2013 with the goal to sell it to broadcasters both in the U.S. and international. That version of the show never moved forward.
Even though it was just two weeks ago thatSylvester Stalloneannounced writing had begun onRambo: Last Blood,Deadlinereports that the movie sequel has been put on hold. Rambo: New Blood marks the secondSylvester Stallonefranchise set to be turned into an upcoming TV series, with an episodicThe Expendablesproject also in the work at Fox with the same team in place. That show is now in development and hasNCIS: Los Angeles’s Shane Brennan as a show runner.
This will actually be the second TV show for John Rambo, who was featured in a 1986 animated series titled Rambo: The Force of Freedom. IfSylvester Stallonereturns as John Rambo, it will be his first major TV series role. It isn’t known if he will also reprise his role inThe ExpendablesTV show, which may bring back prominent TV action heroes of yesteryear. What do you think? Are you excited about the weekly adventures of this burnt outVietnam Vetwho seems to always be on a deadly revenge mission?
