Yo movie fans! Let's talk about a legend Sylvester Stallone. This guy is pure movie icon right? Rocky Rambo The Expendables the list goes on. But did you know about his super different movies with Michael Caine? Or the real life hero who inspired Rambo? Plus we've got a Tulsa King Season 3 update you won't wanna miss. Let's get into it!
Stallone and Caine: Two Movies Worlds Apart (and a Bit of Real-Life Drama!)
Okay so Sylvester Stallone and the legendary Michael Caine have actually starred in not one but TWO movies together. Crazy right? Even crazier is how different these films are. First up we have 1981's Victory. Think World War II sports movie. Prisoners of war forced to play soccer against a German team. Stallone is an American captain Caine is a British officer. Lots of drama action and even soccer legend Pelé is in it!
Behind the scenes things were apparently a little tense too. Caine was not thrilled with Stallone being late on set and they butted heads over the movie's ending. Stallone even admitted he was not in top shape for filming and called it "brutal". Despite the behind-the-scenes stuff Victory was a hit with critics. Talk about movie magic!
Fast forward to 2000 and Stallone and Caine team up again for Get Carter. Total genre switch here. This one is a gritty action thriller. Stallone plays a mob enforcer seeking revenge for his brother's death. Caine plays a loan shark who might have some clues. This time around they got along way better becoming actual friends. But unlike Victory Get Carter was a critical and box office flop only scoring 11% on Rotten Tomatoes. Talk about a mixed bag of movie history!
Rambo's Real-Life Hero: The WWII Vet Who Inspired a Legend
Rambo is another name that screams Sylvester Stallone right? First Blood the movie that started it all back in 1982 is based on a book. And that book character John Rambo was actually inspired by a real person: Audie Murphy. Yep America's most decorated WWII soldier. Author David Morrell was fascinated by Murphy's Medal of Honor citation calling it "superhuman". He said anything Rambo did in the movies paled compared to Murphy's real heroism.
But it wasn't just Murphy's war heroics that inspired Rambo. It was also his struggle with PTSD after coming home. Murphy was open about his nightmares and the toll war took on him. Morrell wanted to show that side of war too the psychological scars that soldiers carry. So Rambo's inner turmoil his difficulty adjusting to civilian life that all has roots in the reality of veterans' experiences.
Interestingly the book First Blood actually has a much darker ending than the movie. In the book Rambo dies along with the police chief chasing him. The movie changed that made Rambo survive and well we got four more Rambo movies! Author Morrell felt the film sequels missed the point of his original story turning Rambo into more of a "recruitment poster" than a portrayal of a traumatized vet. Food for thought huh?
Tulsa King Season 3: Filming Update and Stallone's Crazy Work Ethic Revealed!
Good news Stallone fans! Tulsa King Season 3 is officially happening and filming is starting soon! Martin Starr who plays Bodhi on the show spilled some beans. He said they are starting production this month and he has already read the first two scripts for Season 3. He teased a lot of action and some "loose ends" getting tied up. Sounds exciting!
Starr also gave some insights into working with Stallone. Apparently Sly is super involved in the show especially the writing. Starr said Stallone rewrites his dialogue "every night" after filming. He also loves to improvise which is awesome for comedic scenes with Starr's character Bodhi. It sounds like Stallone is not just a star he is a real workhorse making sure Tulsa King is top-notch. Season 3 filming is moving locations again to Atlanta area for filming.
No premiere date for Season 3 yet but if filming starts in March and follows a similar schedule to Season 2 we could be seeing new episodes in the fall of 2025. Fingers crossed! Season 2 ended on a cliffhanger with Dwight getting arrested by the FBI so Season 3 is definitely set to pick up the action right away. Get ready for more mafia drama fish-out-of-water comedy and Sylvester Stallone being awesome as Dwight "The General" Manfredi!
Sylvester Stallone Movie Must-Watches:
- Rocky (1976): The classic boxing drama that launched Stallone's career.
- First Blood (1982): The film that introduced the world to John Rambo.
- Victory (1981): WWII sports drama co-starring Michael Caine and Pelé.
- Cliffhanger (1993): High-altitude action thriller showcasing Stallone's action hero skills.
- The Expendables Franchise: Action-packed ensemble series featuring Stallone alongside other action movie legends.
- Tulsa King (2022-Present): Crime dramedy series on Paramount+ with Stallone as a mafia capo in Oklahoma.