India, June 3 -- Rambo is officially returning for a new movie, with Lionsgate acquiring the rights. The deal includes worldwide distribution rights for the upcoming prequel, which will be the sixth installment in the Rambo franchise.

The film will be the first in the series without Sylvester Stallone in the lead role. Instead, Stallone will serve as an executive producer, while Noah Centineo takes on the titular role.

The Rambo story began with First Blood in 1982, when Stallone first portrayed John Rambo. The upcoming film, John Rambo, is being developed as an origin story set before the events of First Blood.

Later entries in the franchise expanded the character's story, and John Rambo will mark the sixth film in the series. It will...