Lionsgate has acquired the rights to develop and produce all future projects based on The Expendables franchise, and secured worldwide distribution for the sixth instalment of the Rambo series, John Rambo. The deal marks a significant expansion of the studio’s involvement in two of Hollywood’s long-running action properties.
Noah Centineo (Warfare, Black Adam) is in final negotiations to take on the title role as the iconic battle-hardened veteran, whilst Jalmari Helander, director of Sisu, is set to helm the project, with production slated to begin next year in Thailand. The screenplay comes from Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani, whose credits include The Mauritanian and Black Adam. Millennium Media and Templeton Media will produce, with Kevin King Templeton, Les Weldon, and Jonathan Yunger leading production and Dallas Sonnier and Amanda Presmyk of Bonfire Legend serving as executive producers.
Lionsgate will also serve as the lead studio and production partner for all future Rambo TV projects and retains the opportunity to participate in any future Rambo films. The deal further gives the studio the ability to expand The Expendables universe across film, television, video games, immersive experiences, and other cross-platform extensions of the franchise that have already grossed nearly $700 million worldwide.
The studio already distributes all existing Expendables films in the U.S., Canada, and the UK. It also handles distribution for multiple Rambo titles, including Rambo IV and Rambo: Last Blood in North America, UK rights to Last Blood, and earlier entries like First Blood, Rambo II, and Rambo III across Latin America and Southeast Asia.
The deal was negotiated by Lionsgate executives Charlotte Koh (EVP & Co-Head, Acquisitions & Co-Productions) and Christopher Davis (SVP of Business & Legal Affairs), alongside Trevor Short and Jonathan Yunger for Millennium Media.
