Sylvester Stallone Reveals He Tried to Burn ‘First Blood’ After Seeing the Edit

Sylvester Stallone’s illustrious career is anchored by two iconic characters, Rocky Balboa and John Rambo. Both emerged from projects that the industry initially doubted, and both nearly slipped away from him. In his memoir, ‘The Steps,’ Stallone reflects on this journey, sharing stories in various promotional interviews.

The tale of ‘Rocky’ is well-documented. Stallone has recounted how the offered money for the screenplay kept increasing without him attached, and he held out because he realized he would never find another opportunity like it. The story of ‘Rambo’ is more peculiar, involving a film he reportedly wanted to destroy.

‘First Blood,’ which premiered on Oct. 22, 1982, was directed by Ted Kotcheff and adapted from David Morrell’s 1972 novel. Stallone not only starred in the film but also co-wrote the screenplay, portraying Vietnam War veteran John Rambo, who is pursued by a small-town sheriff and his police force after suffering mistreatment in custody. The film had a long development history, with numerous actors, including Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, Clint Eastwood, and Robert De Niro, attached at various points before ultimately dropping out.

Recently, Stallone revisited the film’s tumultuous beginnings on ‘The Graham Norton Show.’ The 80-year-old actor appeared on the BBC One program on Friday, Oct. 2, alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones, Andrew Garfield, and the band Blossoms. He revealed that his agent was horrified upon viewing the first edit, stating, “It was so bad I tried to buy it back so I could torch it.”

The initial cut exceeded three hours, but Stallone managed to trim it down to 89 minutes, noting that “what I cut out was mostly me.” The final released version runs 93 minutes, and this significant re-edit is widely credited with saving the film.

This isn’t the first time he has shared this story. On ‘The Howard Stern Show’ in 2005, Stallone mentioned that he and his manager attempted to buy the film back to destroy the negative, believing it could end his career. His drastic solution involved cutting much of his own dialogue, allowing other characters to describe Rambo, a technique he likened to a Greek chorus.

The outcome was a resounding success. ‘First Blood’ grossed $125.2 million against a budget of approximately $15 million. It dominated the North American box office for three consecutive weeks, and its opening weekend marked the best October debut at that time. While initial reviews were mixed, critics have since recognized it as a pivotal action film.

The gamble also paid off for the franchise. The 1985 sequel, ‘Rambo: First Blood Part II,’ earned an estimated $300.4 million globally and became a cultural phenomenon. Few could have anticipated this success when Stallone was feeling despondent over the first cut.

Stallone’s other anecdotes from the conversation highlight how close he came to missing out on this iconic role. He mentioned that he was around the eleventh actor considered for the part, as it was initially unwanted. He also reflected on his past rivalry with Arnold Schwarzenegger, noting that while they are good friends today, the competition began the moment he laid eyes on him.

For a star who has spent four decades as an action icon, the lesson is a surprising one. Sometimes, the best way for an actor to salvage a film is to step back and minimize their own presence in it.

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