New Rambo Film Casts David Harbour as Sheriff Hopper and Brings Back Iconic Characters from Stranger Things and Avengers

David Harbour has officially joined the cast of the upcoming “John Rambo” prequel film, taking on the role of Colonel Samuel R. “Sam” Trautman, the commanding officer of the titular character.

The Golden Globe-nominated actor, best known for his role as Jim Hopper in the Netflix series “Stranger Things,” will star alongside Noah Centineo, who portrays a young John Rambo in the origin story set years before the events of the 1982 film “First Blood.”

Directed by Jalmari Helander and written by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani, “John Rambo” is the sixth installment in the Rambo film series and serves as a direct prequel to “First Blood.” The film explores the formative experiences that shaped the character later portrayed by Sylvester Stallone in five subsequent films.

Harbour’s casting continues a legacy established by Richard Crenna, who originated the role of Colonel Trautman in the original Rambo trilogy, appearing in “First Blood” (1982), “Rambo: First Blood Part II” (1985), and “Rambo III” (1988). Stallone, who co-wrote the first five films and portrayed John Rambo throughout the series, is serving as an executive producer on the new project.

The film also features a supporting cast that includes Yao, Jason Tobin, Quincy Isaiah, Jefferson White, and Tayme Thapthimthong. Production is being handled by Lionsgate, Millennium Media, Templeton Media, and AGBO, with filming taking place in Bangkok, Thailand.

Based on David Morrell’s 1972 novel, the “John Rambo” film aims to delve into the roots of one of cinema’s most enduring action characters, detailing the military service and personal experiences that defined the soldier before his confrontation with law enforcement in the original “First Blood.”