Stallone Regrets Not Taking Role That Could’ve Won Him an Oscar 49 Years Ago!

Sylvester Stallone has built his legend on iconic roles like Rocky and Rambo, but his career is also defined by some pivotal choices he revisits with hindsight. In a 2022 interview with the Hollywood Reporter (via Première), during the promotion of the series Tulsa King on Paramount+, the actor reflected on several casting decisions he still regrets today.

While he regrets starring in the 1992 comedy cop film, Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot, directed by Roger Spottiswoode, Stallone discussed films he believes were underrated, such as Get Carter and Cop Land, which were projects he was particularly fond of but did not achieve expected success. “Get Carter was underrated. That was a big disappointment… I also thought Cop Land would do better,” he revealed.

However, it’s the roles he turned down that he reflected on most candidly. Contrary to persistent rumors, Stallone clarified that he was never approached for films like Arthur or Pulp Fiction. Nonetheless, he acknowledged declining several significant projects that could have altered his career path, such as Witness, directed by Peter Weir and starring Harrison Ford. He still considers this a major mistake. “I did turn down Witness, and it kills me,” he admitted. The film, released in 1985, was a critical and commercial success, securing a Best Actor Oscar nomination for Harrison Ford.

“Coming Home”: When Jon Voight Won the Oscar Over Stallone

Among other roles he passed on, Coming Home (1978), directed by Hal Ashby and starring Jane Fonda and Jon Voight, holds a special place. This war drama is considered one of the great American films of the late 1970s. It was critically acclaimed and a significant box office success, eventually winning several Oscars.

Stallone disclosed that he was linked to the project at the time but ultimately declined the role. Reflecting on this decision, he candidly stated: “I would never have performed as well as Jon Voight, who was superb in the film,” praising Voight’s Oscar-winning performance.

In the interview, Stallone emphasized that his decision was based not on rivalry or disinterest but on a personal intuition that turned out to be unprofitable. Even today, he views Coming Home as a missed opportunity that could have been a significant milestone in his career during a period when he was just beginning to make a name for himself in Hollywood.

On the other hand, the role allowed Jon Voight to deliver one of the most memorable performances of his career and to establish himself firmly in the American film landscape. A success that Stallone now views with admiration and a hint of regret, even decades later.

For the curious, Coming Home is currently only available on DVD and Blu-ray.

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