The Unbelievable Action Movie That Nearly Cast Meryl Streep with Sylvester Stallone!

Meryl Streep, renowned for her unparalleled range and ability to seamlessly navigate through dramas, comedies, and historical epics, has captivated audiences with her performances across nearly every genre imaginable. From her gripping role in Kramer vs Kramer to her unforgettable portrayal in The Deer Hunter and Doubt, Streep has shown the world the breadth of her talents. However, one potential collaboration—one that could have radically reshaped her legacy—was a project that would have placed her alongside one of the action genre’s biggest icons: Sylvester Stallone.

Sylvester Stallone, the king of high-octane action, has left an indelible mark with iconic roles in Rocky, Creed, and Rambo. His reputation for delivering intense and physically demanding performances is matched only by his steadfast on-screen persona as the ultimate tough guy. But in 1993, there was one film that almost took a surprising turn by considering Meryl Streep for a role—an unexpected pairing that could have been an intriguing shift for both stars.

The Unlikely Pairing: Demolition Man

The film in question was Demolition Man, a futuristic action thriller directed by Marco Brambilla. Set in a dystopian future, the film follows a cryogenically frozen criminal, Simon Phoenix (played by Wesley Snipes), who escapes during a parole hearing in 2032. In a desperate bid to capture him, the authorities awaken his former captor, John Spartan (played by Stallone), who has been in cryostasis after being wrongfully imprisoned for a massacre he was accused of committing. The movie’s blend of wild action, satire, and an over-the-top vision of the future made it a cult classic, beloved for its absurdity and humor.

Stallone, Snipes, and Sandra Bullock led the cast, with Bullock playing the naive but resourceful Lenina Huxley, a character who eventually becomes Spartan’s ally. The film found success despite its quirky, at times campy tone, and garnered a dedicated following. However, behind the scenes, a fascinating subplot emerged that never made it onto the screen.

The Abandoned Sequel Plans

In a twist of fate, Demolition Man almost had a very different sequel—one that would have seen Meryl Streep joining the action-packed world. After the film’s release, the writers began considering a continuation of the story. The issue stemmed from a strange plot point in the first film that mentioned Spartan having a daughter, though she was never seen in the film. Audiences were left confused, with some even speculating that Sandra Bullock’s character might be the daughter—until a sex scene between her and Stallone’s character made that theory impossible.

The filmmakers found themselves in a creative bind, unsure whether to eliminate all references to the daughter or somehow address this storyline in a sequel. That’s when Demolition Man writer Daniel Waters revealed the odd suggestion: “Maybe we should cut out all mentions of the daughter. Can’t do it. We need something.” The solution that came from producer Joel Silver was equally unexpected. Silver proposed that Meryl Streep could play Spartan’s daughter in the sequel.

Waters described the moment in an interview, recounting how Silver pitched the idea: “Meryl Streep is the daughter. She needs a big box office action movie.” Waters, initially skeptical, responded, “No, she doesn’t.” But Silver was insistent, even going so far as to say, “If I get her to do it, will you come on?”

Although the idea of casting Streep in an action-packed role as Stallone’s daughter was initially exciting to some, the concept quickly became muddled. The unusual logic behind pairing a serious dramatic actress like Streep with an action movie like Demolition Man raised questions about the feasibility of such a collaboration. Despite the idea being discussed, it ultimately never materialized, and the sequel plans were eventually abandoned.

A Missed Opportunity?

Had Meryl Streep joined Demolition Man’s sequel, it would have been a fascinating departure from her usual roles. Streep, known for her powerful dramatic performances, had not yet ventured into the action genre in a major way. Her collaboration with Stallone in such a ludicrously stylized film could have brought an unexpected layer of depth to the film’s portrayal of futuristic chaos and technological absurdity.

However, as much as the idea of pairing the two seemed intriguing, it would likely have been difficult to explain within the movie’s narrative. The film’s already offbeat and satirical tone would have had to contend with the absurdity of such an unlikely casting decision. Ultimately, the logic behind casting Streep as Spartan’s daughter may have been too difficult to justify, and the idea was rightfully abandoned.

The Legacy of Demolition Man and the What-Ifs

Though Demolition Man’s sequel never came to fruition and Streep never joined the action franchise, the film itself remains a cult classic—thanks in part to its bizarre vision of the future, its satirical take on society, and, of course, the performances of its stars. The potential pairing of Streep and Stallone, however, remains one of Hollywood’s most curious “what ifs.”

Meryl Streep, forever committed to her craft, has since continued to excel in roles that challenge her ability to embody complex and multifaceted characters. While she never donned the action-star persona, her career is filled with bold and unexpected choices that demonstrate her versatility. And for Stallone, Demolition Man remains a memorable entry in his extensive catalog, albeit one without the unexpected addition of a Meryl Streep performance.

In the end, the almost-team-up between Stallone and Streep remains a fascinating glimpse into the creative process and the odd possibilities that Hollywood sometimes throws at its stars—sometimes, the most unexpected pairings turn out to be the ones that never happen at all.