6 Iconic Films Sylvester Stallone Turned Down That Changed Hollywood

Sylvester Stallone’s rise to stardom is the stuff of Hollywood legend. With his breakout performance in Rocky, he set the standard for underdog tales and became a household name. As the 1980s rolled in, Stallone dominated the box office with the Rocky sequels and the explosive Rambo franchise. Yet, even as he cemented his place among action icons, Stallone missed out on a handful of films that would go on to define the era.

Missed Action Classics

Stallone’s journey wasn’t without its share of rejections. He was passed over for roles in major productions like Superman and even failed to land a background part in The Godfather, despite his Italian roots. One of the most notable near-misses was Star Wars, where he was briefly considered for Han Solo before the part went to Harrison Ford. Stallone later joked about his audition, saying he looked out of place in spandex.

But it wasn’t just about being turned down—Stallone also walked away from projects that would become cultural touchstones. Among the most significant was Die Hard. Before Bruce Willis became John McClane, Stallone was one of the first actors approached for the role. Screenwriter Steven de Souza recalled,

They went to Arnold [Schwarzenegger]. They went to Sly, who turned it down. They went to Richard Gere—turned it down. They went to James Caan—turned it down. They went to Burt Reynolds, and all of these people rejected it.

Willis’s everyman appeal ultimately set the film apart from the muscle-bound heroes of the time.

Comedies and Sci-Fi That Got Away

Stallone was also in the running for Beverly Hills Cop after Mickey Rourke dropped out. His agent saw it as a golden opportunity, but Stallone rewrote the script as a straight action drama, stripping away its signature humor. Director Martin Brest remembered,

My conception of it at the time was to do something with Stallone that nobody had ever seen before, It had some comedic elements by virtue of the fish out of water, but he wrote this thing that was a straight-out action drama.

Stallone’s version never materialized, but he later used his ideas for the film Cobra.

Another major opportunity was The Terminator. Reports suggest Stallone was considered for the T-800, alongside Mel Gibson and O.J. Simpson. With Rambo already under his belt, he likely passed on the role. Reflecting on it years later, Stallone said,

I don’t look like any comic-book character. Like I could have never played The Terminator. No one would make a robot with a crooked mouth and voice that sounds like a pallbearer. It just doesn’t work.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s performance became iconic, and the rivalry between the two stars only grew.

Romance, Drama, and Tarantino

Stallone faced a tough choice between Romancing the Stone and Rhinestone. He chose the latter, a musical with Dolly Parton, and later admitted regret, saying,

The third thing was picking between Rhinestone and Romancing The Stone and you know which I ended up going for… (Laughs)

While Rhinestone is often cited as a misstep, Romancing the Stone became a massive hit and helped launch Michael Douglas as a leading man.

He also turned down a role in Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown, as well as a part in Death Proof. Stallone explained his decision to pass on the latter,

There’s no way. I have two daughters, and this fellow, his hobby is putting teenagers in his car and smashing them into a wall’. That’s not going to work.

Rumors swirled that he was considered for Pulp Fiction, but Stallone later clarified he was never in the running.

Drama That Could Have Changed Everything

Of all the films Stallone passed on, Witness stands out as his biggest regret. The film gave Harrison Ford a chance to break away from his action-hero image and earned him his only Best Actor Oscar nomination. Stallone later admitted,

Witness killed me… Witness was a mistake.

Missing out on this role kept Stallone typecast for years, until he finally got to show his range in Tulsa King .

Had Stallone taken on some of these roles, especially in Beverly Hills Cop or Witness, his career might have taken a very different path.