Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger are definitely great co-stars and friends now, but there was a time when the two superstars disliked each other. Their rivalry is still a topic of conversation whenever the two actors sit down for an interview.
The 76-year-old actor rose to prominence through his films Rambo and Rocky. Soon after, Schwarzenegger stepped into Hollywood with his well-built physique, making it difficult for the people to decide who was the greater actor, Schwarzenegger or Stallone.
Sylvester Stallone was offered the role of the Terminator before Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger made his Hollywood debut in 1970 with the film Hercules in New York. On February 25, 1970, the action-adventure movie was released. The Fubar actor’s impressive biceps and abs wowed the audience, but he found much-needed stardom after The Terminator was released. Many actors were considered for the role of Terminator, and Sylvester Stallone was one of them.
The 76-year-old actor was already a well-known figure in the industry. Reportedly, he turned down the offer to star in a sci-fi action film. Other actors like Mel Gibson, Lance Henriksen O.J. Simpson, and Tom Selleck were also on the list of potential actors to play roles. After Stallone and Schwarzenegger both become well-known action heroes during the 80s, their rivalry kept growing more and more.
Arnold Schwarzenegger talked about his rivalry with Sylvester Stallone
Schwarzenegger and Stallone were cast together in the film series The Expendables. The two mega-stars have admitted that there was a rivalry between them back in the time when they were ruling Hollywood. Once the former governor of California expressed his perspective towards the past rivalry he had with the Rocky Balboa actor. The Twins actor said,
“We couldn’t stand to be in the same galaxy together for a while. We truly, truly loathed each other. He’s quite clever. He goes around town saying, ‘I can’t wait to do this film…’ I go to my agent, ‘Get that thing away from him. Get people options on me.’”
He further added,
“I got it and I said, ‘What a piece of s*** this is.’ He goes, ‘Ha ha ha! At least I wasn’t pregnant in a film Arnold. We’re even.”
Both the Creed II actor and the 75-year-old actor have put their differences aside and have been seen posing together at numerous events. Once the Rocky III actor compared himself and the Total Recall actor to Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Stallone was full of praise when he was talking about Schwarzenegger’s acting skills. The 76-year-old actor said, the Predator always had the strength and the body. He further added it was his character.