If Great Britain has James Bond, the United States shall have John Rambo. It’s not comparing apples and oranges but matching up two successful film franchises – one is already there and the other one is planning to get there.
The latest report about Sylvester Stallone’s iconic Rambo character is that a “Rambo 5” movie might happen after all but without the veteran Hollywood action star on it.
Apparently, the fifth entry in the “Rambo” film franchise is to be called “Rambo: New Blood,” which happens to be the title of the supposed TV series about the character supposedly to be aired on Fox starting this month.
So instead of a TV show, the producers, and that probably includes the 70-year-old Stallone, have decided to turn it into a film instead. Thus, it also follows that the TV project is likely scrapped for good.
Nu Image and Millennium Film are reportedly working on “Rambo 5” which shall be paying homage to “First Blood” in name but without Stallone in it.
The production studios are said to be treating “Rambo” as more of a “James Bond” type franchise, which implies that they will occasionally revamp the series with a new actor as long as it is bringing money at the box office, reports Movieweb.
Apparently, “Rambo 5” or “Rambo: New Blood” is the first attempt at turning the series into a serious James Bond-like franchise. It would be like Sylvester Stallone is Sean Connery and the ensuing “Rambo” actor would be George Lazenby or Roger Moore.
Straight up reboot or a continuation?
The latest report does not say whether “Rambo: New Blood” will be a straight up reboot or a continuation of the storyline of John Rambo as played by Stallone.
Brooks McLaren has already been tapped to write the script and screenplay for the production studios who is reportedly eyeing Ariel Vromen as director.
Vromen directed the film “The Iceman and Criminal” early this year which did not do well at the box office despite having a lot of star power.
But there is still no actor that has been chosen to take on the role of John Rambo. It also did not mention whether Stallone will be given a role in the production of the fifth film of the franchise or not but the chances of him getting one looms very high.
Maybe a bad idea
Some critics, however, think that turning the Rambo film series into a franchise like James Bond is a bad idea, notes Joblo.
They believe that reboots of classic and iconic franchises have failed miserably in recent past, most notably “Robocop” or “Total Recall,” but they are hoping just the same that Nu Image and Millennium Films have some aces on its sleeve to make the film live up to the hype that it is creating.
Critics are also looking into the unenviable task of finding for an actor who shall fit the bill of John Rambo. The character may be easy to fill in but it has to have the quirks of Sylvester Stallone to make the connection genuine, otherwise, it is expected to go down like the mere subpar reboots in recent years.
It can be recalled that Sylvester Stallone said that “Rambo 5” may still be a possibility because he is the only one retiring and not the John Rambo character.
Immediately after announcing early this year that he will no longer reprise his iconic Rambo character for a fifth installment, Stallone said that his heart is still willing but his body can no longer oblige.
He admitted that he has aged a lot since doing the last Rambo film in 2008 entitled “John Rambo” and he felt that he could no longer give justice to the character anymore, regardless of whatever plotline the movie shall have.