Rambo Prequel Casts James Franco in Villain Role After Hollywood Exile

Rambo is heading back to the big screen with a new prequel, but the project is currently plagued with criticism following the casting of James Franco. As per Variety, the actor has joined the cast of John Rambo in a small villain role.

This is Franco’s most recent high-profile role in years as he returns to Hollywood following a long period away from major productions due to s*xual misconduct allegations and legal controversies. The actor previously admitted in a 2021 interview with SiriusXM:

I’ll admit I did sleep with students. I didn’t sleep with anybody in that particular class, but over the course of my teaching, I did sleep with students.

The announcement of Franco’s casting received mixed reactions from the public. At this point, it is unknown whether the actor’s comeback could help or hurt the highly anticipated project.

James Franco Says He’s Not in Hiding After Misconduct Allegations

Many fans believed Franco went off the radar after the accusations, but looking at his filmography, he was involved in a couple of low-profile projects in the past two years. He clarified in an interview with Deadline that he was not hiding away:

It’s not true I’ve been hiding out, I’ve been here the last three or four years running, selling things and they treat me well and I get to go and see great movies.

When asked if he felt he was unfairly treated due to the claims, he said he’s just trying to move forward and live a positive life. He also asserted that he would continue making movies.

In 2018, Franco faced s*xual misconduct allegations from five women, including four former acting students. In 2021, he reached a legal settlement with two of the accusers. Court documents obtained by PEOPLE revealed that Franco agreed to pay $2.235 million as part of the settlement agreement.

What We Know So Far About the John Rambo Prequel Movie

Directed by Jalmari Helander and written by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani, the upcoming John Rambo prequel stars Noah Centineo as John J. Rambo and David Harbour as Major Samuel R. “Sam” Trautman.

Set years before the events of 1982’s First Blood, the film will focus on Rambo’s younger years and military background during the Vietnam War era. The Rambo franchise was popularized by Sylvester Stallone and is one of his most commercially successful projects.

Since the release of the original film, the franchise has grown into a global action phenomenon with multiple sequels and a loyal fan base. First Blood was followed by four more installments: Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), Rambo III (1988), Rambo (2008), and Rambo: Last Blood (2019).

So far, plot details and the official release date remain under wraps. Filming commenced in January this year and concluded in March in Bangkok, Thailand.

Movie:	John Rambo
Franchise:	Rambo
Director:	Jalmari Helander
Distributor:	Lionsgate Films
Cast Members:	Noah Centineo, David Harbour, Yao, Jason Tobin, Quincy Isaiah, Jefferson White, Tayme Thapthimthong, James Franco

What are your thoughts on Franco joining the cast of the Rambo prequel? Let us know in the comments!