Sylvester Stallone talks about his Star Wars audition and hating Arnold

August 15th 2014, 2:06pm

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

THE EXPENDABLES 3 is finally here to bring some classic action heroes back on the big screen together. This is as good a time as any to look back on one's career, especially that of Sylvester Stallone. While back in the day he seemed to be one step behind Arnold Schwarzenegger, nowadays he looks back on that time fondly, and recently spoke to Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show about it. You can check out the video here, but I've included some highlights below.

Regarding his audition for the original Star Wars:

I had just finished Rocky, yeah, something like that, and I was going up for an audition. So I go in there and see George Lucas and the producer and I can tell instantly when no one likes you. Not to disparage George Lucas, but after you've seen 100 people, you get tired, so you just hope that the guy in front of you just disappears, like, a spider eats me! And I was reading for Han Solo but I got maybe . . . well, I got nowhere. I was there to read for it and they were like, "Guy, you're really . . . yeah, you're, um . . ." I said, "Let me just make it easy for you: I would look like crap in spandex, leotards and a ray gun. I get it! Guys in space don't have this kind of face!"

His feelings on Schwarzenegger throughout his career:

Well we were very competitive. Yeah, I think 'hate' is a good word. [laughs] I really respect this guy. I think he's brilliant. What he's done, what he's accomplished. BUT . . . I wanted to strangle him!

I love Stallone's good nature in that interview, and the fact he is not pulling a Dave Mustaine and being completely bitter about the competitive nature between him and Schwarzenegger. Stallone is a smarter man than he once was and knows his strengths and weaknesses. He has a hand in crafting THE EXPENDABLES and that's why he works so well in them. THE EXPENDABLES 3 boasts the biggest and best line-up so far and according to our reviews, looks to be a lot fun! It'll be great to catch up with these classic action heroes on the big screen together.

THE EXPENDABLES 3 is now in theaters!