In a landmark deal, Lionsgate has officially teamed up with Millennium Media, putting the studio in charge of two of Hollywood’s biggest action franchises: Rambo and The Expendables. Announced on November 3, the agreement gives Lionsgate the rights to develop and produce new movies and television series under The Expendables banner while taking global distribution rights for the upcoming Rambo film.
John Rambo is the title of the next chapter in the Rambo saga. The sixth film in the action series will be directed by Finnish filmmaker Jalmari Helander, best known for the gritty action thriller Sisu. In some great news, it’s now being reported that To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before alum Noah Centineo is in final negotiations to play young John Rambo, bringing the iconic character originated by Sylvester Stallone back to life.
The movie will delve deep into Rambo’s early years, which will give a whole new dimension to the legend. The production of the film would start next year in Thailand and will be co-produced by Millennium Media along with Templeton Media, from a screenplay written by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani. Lionsgate is set to launch international sales on the project at AFM.
Under the terms of the new deal, Lionsgate becomes the primary studio and production partner on all future Rambo and Expendables projects, including potential spinoffs, television series, video games, and immersive experiences.
“This deal expands Lionsgate’s portfolio of genre-defining action franchises,” said Lionsgate COO Brian Goldsmith. “We’re excited to reimagine The Expendables and Rambo across film and television, beginning with John Rambo.” Millennium Media president Jonathan Yunger added, “These franchises have enduring power, and Lionsgate’s global reach and creative expertise make it the perfect partner.”
Lionsgate already distributes several Rambo and Expendables titles across major international markets, so this partnership offers a natural next step in extending both legendary franchises.