Only Sylvester Stallone could keep up with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 80s. The Hollywood rivals shaped the action genre to their will and starred in blockbuster sagas during their primes. While Schwarzenegger had The Terminator and Conan films, Sly had Rocky and Rambo. However, of all of Stallone’s films, the $1.7 billion Rocky franchise captivated cinema fans like no other.
During his conversation with Jason and Travis Kelce, Arnold Schwarzenegger touched on his rivalry with Stallone. While the pair are great friends now, it was a no-hold-barred at the box office in the 80s. So Travis Kelce asked why the Kindergarten Cop didn’t star as a villain in the Rocky films. However, Kelce exclaimed, “No! What?” in shock when Arnie said, “I was never offered.”
However, Arnold Schwarzenegger had no desire to play an antagonist in a Rocky film. “First of all I wouldn’t have taken it,” said The Terminator. The bodybuilding icon knew that either he or Sly would have to play second fiddle if they starred in each other’s established franchises. The competing leading men wouldn’t accept that.
Although he co-starred in more equal roles in Escape Plan (2013), it was well over a decade after they had buried the hatchet of Hollywood rivalry. Arnold Schwarzenegger also praised the iconic villains of the Rocky franchise. “I mean the villains that he (Sylvester Stallone) had… They were priceless,” said the Predator star.
The 76-year-old praised the late Carl Weathers for his role in the first Rocky installment. Although Jason Kelce still tried to say that Arnie would’ve brought even more star power to the Rocky franchise, Schwarzenegger praised Dolph Lundgren from Rocky 4 and Mr. T in Rocky 3. Arnold Schwarzenegger knew despite the box-office potential, their rivalry was too intense. That being said, things between Arnie and Sly are a little different now.
How Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone’s relationship has evolved
After their primes, Arnie and Sly went their separate ways. Sylvester Stallone continued to act while Schwarzenegger became the Governor of California. During this time, the two introspected about their rivalry and realized that it had become too extreme.
Back in the day, Schwarzenegger and Stallone even compared who killed more bad guys on screen. So when The Terminator returned to acting, the 77-year-old welcomed him as a friend. After the Austrian’s successful cameos in the Expendables saga, they starred in Escape Plan. While the film didn’t do well at the domestic box office, it became a massive hit overseas.
So, while Travis and Jason Kelce might’ve wanted to see Arnie play a Rocky antagonist, the then-rivals couldn’t share the screen. They wouldn’t have given one other any space to shine.