MOVIE NEWS – The creator of Rambo “imagined” Kris Kristofferson for the role of the iconic action hero at the time…

David Morrell, author of the 1972 novel “First Blood,” which served as the basis for Sylvester Stallone’s iconic Rambo franchise, envisioned a very different actor for the lead role. Taking to X/Twitter, Morrell revealed that he had always envisioned country music icon, A Star Is Born, Convoy and The Blade actor Kris Kristofferson as John Rambo, a troubled Vietnam War veteran who finds himself at odds with the small-town police.

Kristofferson, known for his songs “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Help Me Make It Through The Night,” and others, as well as his roles in films such as A Star Is Born, Pat Garrett, and Billy the Kid from the Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Flashpoint, and Blade franchises, sadly passed away on September 28 at the age of 88.

Morrell paid tribute to the singer and actor on social media, revealing that he had always “imagined” him as Rambo.

“Saddened by the death of Kris Kristofferson, one of my favorite songwriters. He had a great movie career too. Back in 1972, when I sold the film rights to FIRST BLOOD, I imagined him as Rambo, with his beard and long hair as he’s described in my book.”

Kris Kristofferson would have made an engaging Rambo

While this would have made for a very different franchise (if it had even been a franchise at all), it’s not too hard to imagine Kristofferson going up against Sheriff Brian Dennehy and his gang of cops, who soon find themselves in a predicament after the unjust arrest of John Rambo. To be sure, Kristofferson’s gruff and sullen demeanour and “beard and long hair” would have made for a different but equally compelling action hero if Morrell’s fantasy came to fruition.

Meanwhile, Rambo has become one of Sylvester Stallone’s most iconic roles. The action star played the character for decades in several sequels. The audience last saw the action hero in the 2019 film Rambo: Last Blood, which was not exactly received positively by critics and seems to be the last part of the series. However, this may no longer be the case, as Stallone has since promised to work on a prequel TV series.

“I think it’s going to happen. I wanted to do it like a Ken Burns documentary on Vietnam, where you drop young Rambo in there and he’s this outgoing guy, football captain, and then you see why he becomes Rambo. But what they want to do is a modern-day story where I pass the torch. That’s getting close.”

Source: X

Saddened by the death of Kris Kristofferson, one of my favorite songwriters. He had a great movie career also. Back in the 1972, when I sold the film rights to FIRST BLOOD, I imagined him as Rambo, with his beard and long hair as he’s described in my book.https://t.co/cGTwDhDHMS pic.twitter.com/UCwSPHG5Se

— _DavidMorrell (@_DavidMorrell) October 7, 2024