Reel Rumors: Rambo V

After the 2006 success of acclaimed actor Sylvester Stallone's Rocky revamp and subsequent 2008 Rambo, the vast majority of moviegoers would've assumed his action flick career had come to end-at least in terms of the aforementioned franchises. However, according to the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), it seems a fifth installment to the highly successful Rambo film series, which began in 1982 with First Blood, is already in production, slated for release in 2011. Stallone will again be serving as director, screenwriter, and actor of his own film.

In terms of plot and storyline, rumor has it the script will follow one Stallone had originally penned and envisioned for the 2008 rebirth of the series, which was largely set in Burma. Rambo V, however, will likely be set in Africa, and will focus on the violent kidnapping of Rambo's estranged daughter by a hostile cult, from which he will be forced to rescue her. Back in a 2008 interview with UK-based/Canadian-controlled news service Reuters, Stallone said that his decision to develop a fifth Rambo would greatly depend on the box office success of the 2008 revamp of the series. However, he did note that he was already "gearing one up" and that it would "be quite different." (INTERVIEW-Stallone challenges Myanmar junta, eyes "Rambo 5" Reuters: 5/9/2008).

Considering that Rambo of 2008 grossed over $6,490,000 on opening day alone (www.boxofficemojo.com), it comes as no surprise Stallone is interested in helming a fifth film. Worldwide, Rambo grossed over $113,243,155, not to mention the over $41 million garnered in subsequent DVD sales (www.the-numbers.com/movies). Much like the rebirth of Director Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones saga, starring acclaimed actor Harrison Ford, Rambo is a franchise that longtime fans would love to see continue until Stallone is no longer physically able to perform well in the role. Perhaps this is the new Hollywood trend: aging and leading men rekindling some of their most well known sagas (one can only hope this one turns out better than good 'ol Arnold's decision to leap back into Terminator).

As far as casting goes, little is known at this point beyond Stallone himself. Interestingly, the film's official page on the Internet Movie Database has listed actor Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler, 2008 and The Informers, 2009) as a rumored cast member. Rourke has also been confirmed as arch villain Whiplash (aka Ivan Vanko) in Marvel Studio's highly-anticipated Iron Man 2, set to release May 7, 2010.

Back in September of 2008, Moviehole.net was one of the first rumor sites to announce Stallone's writing involvement in Rambo V and even leaked that he was set to pen the story for Rambo VI as well. Stallone commented, "Rambo will be back. We've just got to give you guys a story that's worthwhile." In February of 2009 he also stated, "...the conflict is whether to do it in America or Austria." (Interview with Metro Magazine).

For now, it remains to be seen when and how much of the aforementioned will be carried out. Although Stallone had, at one point, denied any truth to the rumors of a fifth film, it seems all speculation has now become concrete. The highly-anticipated action flick has been given a scheduled release year of 2011, with no word yet on an official month or day.