Sylvester Stallone has had a golden career in Hollywood as a leading man in many successful and iconic films. Although he mainly acted in action films like Rocky, Oscar, Cop Land, and Creed, they also showed the restrained and vulnerable side of the actor.
He is considered one of the iconic action heroes of the 70s and 80s. Stallone has also dabbled in the superhero genre with Guardians of the Galaxy, Samaritan, and The Suicide Squad.
His role as King Shark in The Suicide Squad turned out to be one of the highlights of the film. The weird but sweet character impressed audiences and critics alike. Stallone was immediately drawn to the character as it was a drastic shift from anything he had done before and found it exciting and challenging at the same time.
Sylvester Stallone Sympathized With King Shark’s Ugly and Lovable Nature
Sylvester Stallone provided the voice for King Shark in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad. The character has weird traits but he embodies human feelings including the longing for love and companionship. This aspect immediately resonated with Stallone and he was ecstatic to play the role. He said, (via IOL)
“He had the intelligence to know that no one liked him. He was ugly and completely rejected. And he had a bad habit of eating people. So I thought, he kind of has a nobility among all his defects. But, the one thing that I think the audience is going to like is that he’s dying for companionship. He’s reaching out to people and he’s constantly being rejected, so you have a great deal of sympathy for him,” he said, and added “as well as comedic interest.”
The character slowly became a fan favorite and fans have been clamoring for more King Shark stories. It also earned Stallone a $3 million paycheck (according to Showbiz Galore). It remains to be seen whether Gunn brings back Stallone and the character in his DCU moving forward.
Sylvester Stallone Confirmed His Return as King Shark in The Future
Sylvester Stallone and the character of King Shark in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad received lots of love and fans wanted more of the character in the DCU future. While promoting his show Tulsa King, Stallone revealed to Comicbook.com that he will surely return as the character in the future. He said,
“Yes, for sure. I think James has been very generous… He and I are pretty tight. So if there’s an opportunity… I love him, he’s great.”
Fans may have to wait a while longer as Gunn has yet to start building his DC universe on screen, beginning with the release of Superman: Legacy in 2025. Stallone’s two recent projects Tulsa King and The Family Stallone were both renewed for a second season.
Fans can experience Stallone’s King Shark in The Suicide Squad on Netflix or Max.