The following bit of info may not fill you up, but like the last piece of octopus on a platter of boring California rolls, I can’t ignore it. I’m a glutton for cool “what if…” scenarios, especially when it comes to Rambo or Rocky, as those are all too rare. And hearing a real one come directly from Sylvester Stallone is unheard of. Stallone is answering fans’ questions over at AICN in correlation with Rambo opening the weekend after Cloverfield, and one fan inquired about Sly’s common admission that he’d like to continue the Rambo franchise beyond this new film, the fourth in the series. Here’s the answer…
I truly can’t tell you yet because I think it would be bad luck, but I think a challenge would be to take the character which has been perceived mostly in a realistic vein and add another element of the surreal that would actually take the audience into a slightly different genre. It’s not like I’m going to turn it into a full on Broadway musical starring the Muppets, but it is ambitious.
So, yeah, cross off Muppets from that list above your water bed, but what does Sly mean by this? There’s already speculation with fans that Rambo might take on Predator, an Alien, or fight a giant anaconda with a token rapper. Obviously, the action genre frequently crosses over into science fiction, or might Sly mean doing a Rambo film in the exaggerated graphic novel style of, say, Sin City or 300?
Wait, that style was already seen with Rambo’s first poster! Imagine Rambo in a jungle drenched in shadow, wielding a massive machete as white rain falls down and the blood flows red like paint? Of course, there were also those flimsy rumors a while back that Sly might sign on to appear in the new Terminator trilogy, but that would be ridiculous, right? Robert Englund recently said that Freddy vs. Jason 2 was on ice, but a battle royale between those three would be send most dancing into the streets like Michael Jackson on fast forward. And Stallone has already declared that he’s not going after Osama, out of respect for those who really are (hopefully).
Personally, I’d be amped for a more surreal Rambo film. I’m a sucker for provocative takes on iconic characters, no matter how grounded they formerly were to reality. Sly has plenty of neat ideas these days for new flicks, and unlike Tarantino, he seems to want to get them realized ASAP. If I missed any other possible interpretations, shout below. And yes, I said “neat.”
January 16th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Rambo should take on ghosts.
January 16th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
I mean think about it. Picture it like a scooby doo episode, just instead of ripping off the mask of the baddie at the end, he rips off their face.
January 16th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
rambo is realistic?
January 16th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
@ Billy 2Rivers,
Hah.
Yeah, notice I said…
Personally, I’d be amped for a more surreal Rambo film.
January 16th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
to which i reply: more surreal?
January 16th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
I am ready for Rambo vs. Predator.
January 16th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Rambo W/ Ghostbusters or Rambo Vs Terminator.
January 16th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
How bout……. Ballistic: Ecks vs Rambo
January 16th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I never got into anime or manga beyond having a Hook-Ups Skateboard when I was 13, but I’ve long wanted to see Rocky Balboa depicted on film via Japanese animation. Why not Rambo? That would def be a hit internationally where Sly’s box office is much stronger.
January 16th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Ranbo vs Jaws?
January 16th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
If you read the entire “interview” you’ll see that Stallone was just kidding. I gotta say, I gained an entirely new respect for him reading his answers to those questions and the ones posed to him a while back before Rocky Balboa came out.
January 16th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
@krets
Where did you get that impression? I read the entire Q&A and the preceding one before I posted, and the answer seemed genuine. Thanks.
January 16th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Rambo vs Rocky?
January 16th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
if this movie is #1 i’m going to cry
January 16th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
I dont think he was kidding, i think he was pretty serious. Excited to hear more…
January 17th, 2008 at 1:07 am
Mmh, Rambo vs. Predator sounds not SO shitty as it possibly could.
But what I really would like to see is Rambo vs. Rocky vs. Judge Dredd and the Demolition Man.
Damn, that would be Great 4 Slys in 1 Movie.
February 13th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
what about rambo and stone cold steve austin versus those annoying little smurfs? think about a whole armory of bullets ripping smurfette to shreds while stone cold stuns papa smurf?
yea.. I know I am sick
May 24th, 2008 at 7:28 am
What he meant by taking the series into a different genre is that he would have Rambo in a non-action manner only. Most likely scenario is a struggle relating to his father’s farm when the government try to take it off him. He’s not talking about sci-fi or anything stupid like that
May 31st, 2008 at 9:50 am
RAMBO VS. PREDATOR!!!