Sylvester Stallone says he 'hated' his 'Rocky' co-star Dolph Lundgren for being too 'good looking'
Sylvester Stallone, 73, revealed that he loathed Dolph Lundgren, his co-star in 'Rocky IV', on sight. He was promoting his new 'Rambo: Last Blood' movie, released on September 20, on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.' His feelings were revealed when the talk show host asked him about 'Rocky Balboa', the other iconic role that Stallone is famous for. Speaking about the tough casting process that saw "giant wrestlers" and football players" audition for the part of Ivan Drago, Rocky's nemesis in 'Rambo IV', Stallone said: "I really wanted a big, horrible, vicious guy," the 'Expendables' actor-star told Fallon. "Like a primitive. And I couldn’t find him."
"And then, all of a sudden, the door opened, the smoke came in, there’s light. [He had a] proceeding hairline, shoulders this wide, everything was perfect. Even his calves were coming through his clothing. Just muscular," Stallone continued. "Blue eyes are staring into my soul. He was the real Terminator, and I was like, 'I hate this guy.' He’s too good looking, too perfect. And if I loathe him, I’m sure the world will," he said, sending the studio audience into peals of laughter.
Stallone's comparing Lundgren to Arnold Schwarzenegger is significant. At the time, he also hated Schwarzenegger since they were rival action movie heroes, often competing for the same projects. He had revealed his rivalry with Schwarzenegger when he appeared on 'The Tonight Show' in 2014 while promoting 'Expendables 3.' However, these rivalries (with both Lundgren and Schwarzenegger) have long been put to rest now.
Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren starred in the Warner Bros. Pictures' 'Creed' and have plans to work together on a TV series the two came up with called 'The International' that Stallone will produce. He also doesn't rule out the possibility of starring alongside Lundgren in the series. "It deals with the UN but it's a different kind of UN - it's more hardcore and Dolph will bring a different spin to the whole thing," the action star told Fallon. He also said that a fourth 'Expendables' was being discussed. 'Expendables 3', released in 2014, co-starred Stallone and Dolph Lundgren with Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Statham, Mel Gibson, and Wesley Snipes.
