Sylvester Stallone, a legendary figure in Hollywood, is renowned for his iconic roles in films like Rocky, Rambo, and The Expendables, as well as his recent performance in Tulsa King. However, many fans may not be aware that the Golden Globe-winning actor turned down two significant films directed by Quentin Tarantino. Curious about which Tarantino projects Stallone declined? Here’s what you need to know.
The Two Quentin Tarantino Films Rejected by Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone passed on the roles in Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown and Death Proof.
During a 2012 interview, Stallone disclosed that he was offered the role of Louis Gara, a small-time thug and ex-convict, in the crime thriller Jackie Brown. He decided to turn down the opportunity without providing specific reasons. This role ultimately went to Robert De Niro.
Years later, Tarantino approached Stallone again, this time offering him a larger part: the lead character of Stuntman Mike McKay in the horror action film Death Proof. Nevertheless, Stallone declined this role as well. In his earlier interview, he expressed discomfort with the character traits of Stuntman Mike, who engages in brutal violence against young women. Stallone remarked:
“The [Robert] De Niro part [of Louis Gara] in Jackie Brown. And Grindhouse, the part Kurt Russell did [in Death Proof] — I said, ‘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.”
Ultimately, Stuntman Mike was portrayed by Kurt Russell, leaving fans to wonder if we will see Sylvester Stallone and Quentin Tarantino collaborate on a project in the future.
