Sylvester Stallone wanted it to be the plot of ‘Rambo 4’
It took Sylvester Stallone 20 years to play Rambo again between Rambo III and John Rambo, the fourth installment of the saga. Originally, this film was going to be very different from how we remember it, since Stallone wanted to adapt the famous novel Homefront of Chuck Logan on the big screen. This idea did not come to fruition and the novel became an independent action hit starring Jason Statham.
The story of The Protector (Homefront) revolves around former DEA agent Phil (Statham), who has just moved with his family to a new city in order to leave his dark past behind. Once installed, Phil discovers that his new city is actually the mecca of a drug gang.. The former agent, who was just looking for a quiet place to live, will attract the attention of a methamphetamine kingpin (James Franco) and will have to return to action.
If I had adapted this story, Rambo would have become a kind of anti-drug cop who lives with his young daughter in Louisiana. A story that doesn’t fit the ruthless Vietnam veteran that Stallone fans know. The actor ended up realizing that this plot did not fit at all with his mythical character, so he gave up the main role of Homefront to Statham and retired to continue cultivating his other two successes: John Rambo and The mercenaries.
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This is not the only idea discarded for John Rambo. Stallone He also appreciated the idea of presenting a never-seen brother of the character: A sheriff who would help Rambo take on a gang of criminals in a small town during a hurricane. Finally, Stallone moved to the border with Burma to star in the Rambo IV that all fans know. Would you like to have seen Stallone in Statham’s place?
