Missing out on a massive payday for Rambo 4 might not be Sylvester Stallone’s career’s biggest regret.
Sylvester Stallone is perhaps the biggest action star Hollywood has ever seen, having led not one but two classic action franchises Rocky and Rambo. In the ’70s, he charmed the audience by stepping into the boxing ring as Rocky Balboa, a small-time boxer, while in the ’80s, he grabbed the attention of his fans by diving into the jungles as Vietnam veteran John Rambo.
Rambo’s fifth installment, titled Rambo: Last Blood, hit the theaters in 2019 and showed Stallone remains a timeless action hero by grossing $91 million against the budget of $50 million. A fine performance from a story that kick-started almost 40 years ago. However, the franchise which has earned an impressive $818 million, has also proven to be a cause of huge financial regret for the iconic actor.
Why Sylvester Stallone Turned Down a Huge Rambo Offer
The story about Vietnam veteran and drifter John Rambo, who becomes a subject of a manhunt after meeting with brutal local sheriff, Will Teasle, instantly resonated with the audience due to its anti-war theme as well as the trauma that the protagonist went through.
The subsequent installments moved away from its original idea, with some even suggesting they glorify violence, but the franchise still continued to thrive at the box office. Rambo: First Blood Part II ($300 million) and Rambo III ($188 million) were huge financial successes, making Sylvester Stallone one of the most sought-after stars in the industry. This is the period where the actor perhaps made his biggest financial mistake.
During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2022, the three-time Oscar nominee was asked what is the biggest payday he was ever handed for a role. Stallone didn’t answer this, but instead revealed: “I turned down 34.”
As one would expect, the interviewer was stunned and had to clarify whether the figure was indeed $34 million, leading to the superstar explaining that he just wanted to slow things down. He said:
“We were doing Rambo III. We thought it was going to be the biggest hit — this was before it came out. And I was paid a fortune for it. Then they go, ‘We want Rambo IV. Here it is: Pay or play, 34.’ I go, ‘Let’s not jump the gun here …’”
Do note that this was in the 1980s. Factoring inflation, that would be now more than $80 million. All Stallone could do was admit he was an idiot for that decision. However, losing a fortune in Rambo might not be Stallone’s biggest career regret.
Sylvester Stallone Didn’t Get a Role in a Mafia Movie for a Laughable Reason
One of the most disappointing things about Stallone’s career, despite it being filled with countless action thriller hits, is that at his peak he was never considered an ideal fit for Mafia movies.
In his 20s, Stallone auditioned for The Godfather, even as an extra, but was rejected. The casting team of the classic crime thriller thought the actor “didn’t look Italian enough.” [via Fox News]
He continued: “… for some reason, gangsters have this aura, and I’ve been left out every time.”
This seems comical when one realizes Stallone was born to an Italian father. On top of that, The Godfather stars Marlon Brando and James Caan were not of Italian heritage.
Even after he rose to prominence and was ruling the box office in the ’70s and ’80s, a Mafia-related project didn’t materialize and he had to wait until 2022 to get his wish. He stars as New York mafia capo Dwight “The General” Manfredi in the Paramount+ series Tulsa King.
