“No chance I’ll work with them again. I don’t need that wokeness in my life,” Stallone allegedly told a group of his closest confidants, all former 1980s action stars, during a casual lunch meeting at his favorite steakhouse. Eyewitnesses say the actor appeared visibly irritated as he waved away the offer, choosing to finish his rare steak instead of entertaining the idea of working with the studio again.
The project Stallone rejected was rumored to be the next installment in Disney’s expanding cinematic universe, tentatively titled Hero of the Stars. The film was set to feature Stallone as a grizzled space veteran who must lead a team of diverse, multicultural intergalactic warriors on a quest to recover an ancient relic that holds the power to unite—or divide—the galaxy. Think Guardians of the Galaxy meets Rocky, with a sprinkle of social commentary about environmental conservation and the importance of recycling space debris.
Disney insiders had high hopes for the film, especially with Stallone’s name attached. The actor’s iconic roles in Rambo and Rocky have cemented him as the face of gritty, hard-nosed action for generations. However, despite the project’s potential for box office success, Stallone remained unimpressed by Disney’s increasingly progressive approach to storytelling.
