The Rambo prequel movie is a uniquely exciting prospect for the wider franchise – but it also brings with it arguably the hardest challenge for the series to pull off just right. With John Rambo having now reportedly begun filming, we’re closer than ever to seeing the next release in the Rambo movie series, and gaining insight into what this glimpse of the character’s backstory will look like on the big screen.
Though this premise offers some unique opportunities to delve into the lead character’s history and add further to the films that came before it, going back several in-universe decades from the setting of the most recently released Rambo film, Rambo: Last Blood, presents some clear narrative challenges at this point in time. However, while this creates a major challenge for Rambo 6, it’s one the film can overcome, if it takes the right lessons from what came before.
The Rambo Prequel’s Place In The Timeline Creates One Colossal Challenge For It
Close up of Sylvester Stallone as Rambo as he peers through foliage
While the Rambo prequel taking place before First Blood sets up a fascinating premise for the film, it also provides it with a unique challenge in terms of the wider series. Though John Rambo is set to explore Rambo’s early experience in the Vietnam War, the movie’s story will not be able to navigate its story in the same way other installments in the series have, due to its chronological placement.
Since we know John Rambo has to survive the movie’s story entirely intact in order for the rest of the series to make any sense, the Rambo prequel will be without a core source of tension and excitement that action movies tend to have to rely on in order to grip viewers. Combined with Sylvester Stallone not playing the central and titular role in the film, this tees up John Rambo to have some unique and pressing obstacles to overcome.
How The Rambo Prequel Can Overcome Its Story Challenge
Sylvester Stallone as Rambo aiming a bow and arrow toward the camera in Rambo: Last BloodCredit: MovieStillsDB
The toned-down, character-focused title of John Rambo suggests there are already efforts to navigate the unique story challenges the Rambo prequel presents by instead centering the film on filling in the gaps about the iconic movie character’s life.
While Rambo has been appearing on the big screen for decades now, there’s still much we don’t know about him, and fleshing out the protagonist’s past further could well work to balance out any undermined tension in the film by delving more into Rambo’s overall arc and life story – which would make a lot of sense for the franchise, since it’s always been about much more than solely action to begin with.
Similarly, though John Rambo ostensibly has to survive whatever ordeal he goes through in the film for logistical reasons, that doesn’t prevent him from taking psychological damage, or from losing comrades and loved ones, meaning there are still ample ways to inject tension and anticipation into the plot of the Rambo prequel, and thus navigate the narrative challenges that this particular installment of the series faces.