It’s A Long Road, But Rambo 5 Moves Forward

Rambo 5 is absolutely on the way. Months ago, Sylvester Stallone confirmed the fifth and final film in the decades-old action franchise was forthcoming. A bit of skepticism remained. The fifth Rambo movie moved in and out of development for years. Things ended when Stallone pulled the plug on the project. The actor suggested he felt Rambo wasn’t a character he could continue at his age. The cinema icon’s heart changed. Rambo 5 moves forward with the announcement of character and plot news.

Titled Rambo: Last Blood, the film chronicles the retired war hero’s attempts to save young girls kidnapped by a human trafficking ring. The film returns Rambo to America for the first time since Rambo: First Blood Part Two. The stateside return ties the new movie to the previous installment. As fans likely remember, Rambo returned to his Arizona homestead and presumed retirement. The retirement lasted about ten years.

Both the first two Expendables films and the first Creed feature restored Stallone to bankable promise. His surprise drawing power in the huge box office market of China further cements his bankability. One of Stallone’s feature film disappointments, Escape Plan, saw a sequel produced. The second film when direct-to-DVD in the United States, but earned millions in China. Rambo: Last Blood won’t likely be a flop in the U.S., but don’t look for huge domestic numbers. The box office receipts in China, however, could be significant.

The possibility exists that Rambo may live on after Stallone retires from the role. A television series reboot based on the action series once came close to becoming a green-lighted project. The Rambo film franchise maintains a lengthy history for earning revenue. Sooner or later, the world will see a new Rambo. For now, everyone must be content with the bittersweet sadness of seeing Stallone play the role for a final time.