The Marvel Character Sylvester Stallone Always Dreamed of Playing—And Why He Wasn’t Cast

As one of the biggest action stars of the 1980s, Sylvester Stallone carved out his place in Hollywood history with iconic roles in Rocky and Rambo. Known for his gritty characters and deep, gravelly voice, Stallone became synonymous with the action genre, but even he had aspirations of joining the superhero world. While Stallone eventually made his Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) debut in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Vol. 3 as Ravager leader Stakar Ogord, he always had a different Marvel character in mind — the indomitable Nick Fury.

Though Samuel L. Jackson has forever defined the role of Nick Fury in the MCU, it’s interesting to note that Stallone had once envisioned himself as the character. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Stallone reflected on his past and his affinity for comic book movies. When asked about the superhero roles he dreamed of playing but never had the chance to, he revealed that he had always imagined himself in a supporting role, much like Jackson’s portrayal of Fury, rather than as a main superhero.

“Yeah, I thought I could have done something like that, where I’m not the main guy,” Stallone said, reflecting on Nick Fury’s role in the MCU. “Who was the guy Sam Jackson ended up playing?” When the interviewer clarified it was Fury, Stallone expressed his belief that his distinctive look and gravelly voice would make him a perfect fit for the character. Fury, a key figure in the MCU but never quite the star, seemed like a role that suited Stallone’s style—someone of importance, but not necessarily in the limelight all the time.

It’s easy to see why Stallone gravitated toward Fury. With his rough-and-tumble persona, a commanding presence, and an ability to anchor a film without necessarily being the lead, Fury was the perfect fit for an actor like Stallone. Yet, given Jackson’s defining role as the eye-patched, no-nonsense character, it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role.

Stallone’s reflection on his desire to play Nick Fury is intriguing, especially considering his career trajectory. By the time the MCU began in the late 2000s, Stallone was already well into his career, and it’s clear that he didn’t envision himself as one of the central heroes of the MCU like Iron Man or Captain America. Instead, he saw himself in a supporting capacity, much like Fury—an important character but one who doesn’t necessarily need to headline his own film.

Despite his sense of self-awareness, Stallone acknowledged that some roles in the comic book world were off-limits to him. In the same interview, he humorously noted that he could never have played the Terminator, recognizing that his distinctive look and voice wouldn’t suit the role of a robotic killing machine. “No one would make a robot with a crooked mouth and voice that sounds like a pallbearer,” he quipped.

Stallone’s understanding of his image and the types of roles that suit him speaks to his enduring success in Hollywood. While his rugged, larger-than-life presence made him a perfect fit for action roles, he also understood that there were certain roles, like Tony Stark or Bruce Banner, where his specific traits might not align. This sense of self-awareness helped him navigate a career that has spanned decades and reinvented itself over time, whether through dramatic roles or his continued success in action-packed franchises.

Although he may not have been Nick Fury, Stallone still found a place in the MCU as Stakar Ogord, a character who, though not widely recognized, became memorable thanks to Stallone’s unique presence. His collaboration with James Gunn in the MCU didn’t stop there, as he also appeared as the voice of King Shark in The Suicide Squad (2021), further solidifying his place in the world of comic book adaptations.

In the end, while Stallone may have imagined himself as the iconic Nick Fury, his involvement in both Marvel and DC projects showcases his versatility and enduring relevance in the world of superheroes. Whether as an action hero or a colorful supporting character, Stallone has cemented his legacy in the world of film, even if it wasn’t as the MCU’s most famous eye-patched agent.