Key Takeaways:
– Despite earning major acclaim in Hollywood, Sylvester Stallone admitted that there are certain roles he’d never be able to play due to his distinctive voice and speech pattern.
– In a self-deprecating humor, Stallone stated no one would cast him as the Terminator or any comic book character due to his slurred speech.
– An interesting twist is that Arnold Schwarzenegger, who played the Terminator, had his own struggles due to his thick Austrian accent but his distinct tone became an asset for the character.
– Stallone almost had a shot at playing Superman after the success of Rocky, but director Richard Donner did not see him as the right fit.
Sylvester Stallone Exhibits Resilience
Overcoming school-time bullying and mockery from directors for his birth-induced slurred speech, Hollywood icon Sylvester Stallone found success with his role in 1976’s Rocky. Stallone’s distinctive accent, resulting from paralysis in his lip, chin, and part of his tongue, has become as iconic as the actor himself. The Expendables star’s resilience shone through his adversity, leading to his Hollywood big break and subsequent success in First Blood.
Roles Out of Reach for Stallone
Despite his illustrious career, Stallone openly admits that he wouldn’t have been able to play every role. During a chat on comic book characters, Stallone humorously confessed that due to his distinctive speech and physique, he isn’t perceived or built like a comic book character. “No one would make a robot with a crooked mouth and voice that sounds like a pallbearer,” said Stallone, playfully taking a jab at himself that he could never play the role of the Terminator.
Connections with Schwarzenegger: Two Distinct Accents
Interestingly, just as Stallone faced challenges due to his speech, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who landed the role of the Terminator, fought similar battles. Schwarzenegger’s thick Austrian accent initially posed an issue in Hollywood. However, like Stallone, Schwarzenegger’s signature accent became an asset, lending authenticity to the Terminator character.
The Missed Superman Opportunity
While Stallone might not envision himself as a traditional superhero, there was a time when he almost played the role of Superman. Following the success of Rocky, the Salkinds, the producers of Superman (1978), desired to rope in a big name and considered Stallone. However, director Richard Donner did not perceive Stallone as the right choice for the role.
Donner shared, “I met with Sylvester Stallone because of them [the Salkinds]. I tried to be nice and say, ‘This is wrong’. I liked Stallone; he turned out to be a nice guy. He wanted to do it.”
While Schwarzenegger as T-800 is now iconic, Stallone’s assertion that he wouldn’t fit the part due to his unique speech pattern might not resonate with all. Given Stallone’s compelling presence and gripping performances, it’s plausible that he could have rendered a unique flavor to the Terminator had he taken up the role.
