Sylvester Stallone Wanted to 'Torch' First Rambo Film, Citing Political Incorrectness
The action star revealed on The Graham Norton Show that the original script was so poorly received by his agent that he attempted to buy back the rights to destroy it.
Sylvester Stallone has claimed he sought to buy back the rights to the first Rambo film, intending to destroy it due to its perceived poor quality and political incorrectness.
Stallone, 80, who portrayed the troubled Vietnam War veteran John Rambo in the 1982 film, stated that the initial script was so problematic that his agent reacted with disgust during an early edit.
"When we first saw it in the edit my agent threw up. That’s how horrible it was," Stallone recounted during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show. He added that he was the eleventh actor offered the role, as other actors reportedly shied away from the script.
"No one wanted to play it because it wasn’t very politically correct," Stallone said. "It was so bad I tried to buy it back so I could torch it."
Stallone ultimately edited the film from over three hours down to 89 minutes, noting that much of the cut content involved his own performance.
Prior to Stallone securing the role, several prominent actors were reportedly considered but turned it down. These included Dustin Hoffman, who allegedly found the script too violent, and James Garner, who reportedly disapproved of the character's portrayal. Robert De Niro, Paul Newman, and Michael Douglas were also said to have passed on the project.
![The Hollywood actor, 80, portrayed troubled Vietnam war veteran John Rambo [pictured] in the first movie of the franchise back in 1982](https://skyline.hi-rise.media/images/fuz3NoSf3sTz)
The Rambo franchise has spanned five films, with the most recent, Rambo: Last Blood, released in 2019 to mixed reviews.
During the interview, Stallone also discussed the creation of his other major film franchise, Rocky. He recalled writing the screenplay with the stipulation that he play the lead role, despite initial reluctance from studios who did not view him as a leading man. He held out for the part, recognizing its significance for his career.
Stallone also touched upon his past rivalry with fellow action star Arnold Schwarzenegger, explaining that while they are now friends, their competition in the 1980s and 1990s fueled each other's work in the action genre.
The Graham Norton Show airs on BBC One on Fridays at 10:40 p.m. and is available on BBC iPlayer.