When Sylvester Stallone Initially Rejected Robert Downey Jr. For Edgar Allan Poe's Biopic
Sylvester Stallone spent years trying to make an Edgar Allan Poe biopic and even wanted Robert Downey Jr. for the lead role.
Actor and filmmaker Sylvester Stallone has long been obsessed with bringing an Edgar Allan Poe biopic to life. It was a passion project, one he envisioned making for the big screen. But despite his best efforts, the film never materialised. There were plenty of reasons for the delay, but one particular detail caught the attention of fans – Stallone was reportedly waiting for Robert Downey Jr. to become “hot again." Yes, the Rocky legend had his eyes on the Marvel star for the lead role.
Downey Jr. was on board too, ready to step into Poe’s shoes. But just when things seemed to be falling into place, Stallone threw in a condition that changed everything.
related stories
Looking back at the time he approached the Iron Man actor, Stallone once shared with Roger Ebert in an interview that he was working on the script when the idea of casting Downey Jr. came up. The veteran star explained that he wanted to explore the more mystical side of the writer’s existence.
On the other hand, Robert Downey Jr. himself addressed Stallone’s interest in casting him. In a 2006 interview, he recalled meeting the Rambo star to discuss the film. But things didn’t quite move forward as expected. The Oscar-winning actor revealed, “He said I should wait until I’m hot again. ‘We should wait until you’re hot again so we can do this at a big studio. I don’t want to do this cheap.’"
Stallone’s Poe film has been a dream for decades in the making. He poured years into developing the project, and at one point, it seemed like it might finally come to life with Downey Jr. in the lead. In a 2009 interview with Screen Rant, Downey Jr. even praised Stallone’s work, saying he had “written a great script."
Yet, despite all the effort, the movie remains unmade. Nearly two decades have passed since Stallone first spoke about it and while time has marched on, the 78-year-old filmmaker hasn’t completely abandoned hope.
- Location :
- First Published: