KNOCKOUT ROLE FOR SLY
Stallone enters a new Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Opens Friday
LOS ANGELES Sylvester Stallone’s promoting Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, but the conversation comes across like a Rocky routine.
Stallone plays Stakar in the Marvel movie. He’s a powerful space boss who confronts Yondu (Michael Rooker) about his past associated with harbouring Peter Quill (Chris Pratt).
In the comics, Stakar a.k.a. Starhawk is an original Guardian, so let the speculation begin about Stallone’s Marvel movie future.
Back in the real world, the Rocky icon considers his introduction into the superhero world after attempting most other genres. The 70-year-old admits his strength has always been avoiding his weaknesses.
“I’ve spared Shakespeare undue stress by not doing that — ‘To be or not to be’ — I don’t think it works,” Stallone says. “But this is definitely venturing into a new area.”
All things considered, delving into the superhero cinema-scape “was pretty painless” for him.
“When I walked on the set, I saw robots and things, and seven-feet women and everything else, and I thought it was great,” he says. “It was a great vacation.”
The shoot was also a superhero education into the transformation of the movie industry.
“There’s an evolution that takes place, and each generation has to define itself and find its own heroes, and find its own mythology,” he says. “And this is the new generation’s, and maybe even the next generation’s mythology.”
Certainly, the actor, writer and director did have initial reservations when Marvel boss Kevin Feige invited Stallone to join the Guardians 2 cast.
After all, he’s busy with his own career revitalized by The Expendables trilogy and his Oscar nomination as best supporting actor earned by defining an aging Rocky in 2015’s Creed.
“So I mean I’m kind of earthbound and I’m terrestrial,” Stallone says. “This (Guardians of the Galaxy) is something that takes place in a whole other sphere.”
But he decided to take the chance: “Let me drop in here and see what’s up, where the future’s going, you know, and it was great.”
And there’s the added bonus.
“It got me out of the house from my three daughters — thank you,” Stallone jokes. “That’s why I gave my salary back.”
Before Stallone arrived on the Guardians sequel set in Atlanta, Ga., he had decided against immersing himself in the Guardians comics, which originated in 1969.
“I wanted to go in there with a clean slate and just do what the director wanted done,” Stallone says. “I think this kind of being naive allows you to be directed in a direction they want you to go, without any preconceived ideas.”
At the conclusion of his shoot, he ended up being impressed with versatility of the cast and crew. They mixed action and comedy. They also dedicated themselves to maintaining an appropriate tone.
“I was very impressed by the patience and the professionalism and just the overall skill set that these people possess,” he says. “And it’s better than being up a tree (as Rambo) in Burma. Much better. Trust me.”
Indications are that Stallone might return to one, or a few more, of the Marvel extravaganzas down the road.
But the veteran of more than 60 films has a message for Marvel’s decision-maker Feige:
“I’ll believe it when I see it, Kevin,” he says. “You know what I mean?
“This is Hollywood.”
No matter, Rocky will always be No. 1 with zealots everywhere, including the ones who dress up at conventions.
So does Stallone enjoy seeing fans makeover as Rocky? Not really.
“I really want to punch them out,” he says sounding like his famous film boxer. “I mean, seriously — it’s copyright infringement.”