NEW YORK -- The Islamic State is facing an existential threat. Having routed much of Syria and Iraq, and withstood a prolonged bombing campaign by the US-led coalition, the black-hooded militants are set to face their most formidable opponent to date -- John Rambo.
The Vietnam veteran is to appear in the fifth film of the iconic franchise, with Sylvester Stallone’s ageing soldier due to travel to Syria to take on members of Daesh.
Stallone is to star as Rambo in the fifth installment of the franchise
Speaking at an appearance at Comic-Con on Friday, the 68-year-old actor responded to a question about the next Rambo film, saying: “We are working on it right now actually. We have teams scouting Iraq and parts of Syria where ISIS have their greatest strongholds. We’re working with the locals there to help deliver the most intense and realistic Rambo movie experience ever.”
Stallone wouldn’t be drawn any further on the project, called "Last Blood", but probably said enough to give Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi a few uneasy nights.
Sly has some form when it comes to historical interventionism. Rambo went back to win the Vietnam War for the US in “Rambo: First Blood Part II” (1985), kicked the Soviets out of Afghanistan in “Rambo III” (1988), and intervened in the Burma conflict for the 2008 hit “Rambo.” He also ended the Cold War in Rocky IV (1985).
Speaking in 2012, Gore Vidal addressed Hollywood’s propensity to make amends for unfavourable historical outcomes. “We lost the war very badly in Vietnam,” he said. “Then it was redressed. They made “Rambo” with Sylvester Stallone and we won it on the screen…. And that’s all anyone remembers, Stallone winning the war in the jungle.”