What?

[ADKPiper]

This constitutes a fork in the road with each path leading to two very different universes.

Al Pacino Rejected $1.15B Action Cult-Classic Franchise, Forcing Sylvester Stallone To Play the Lead and Make $400M Fortune - FandomWire

Al Pacino did not want to be a part of Sylvester Stallone's Rambo franchise despite the movie becoming one of the most iconic films.

fandomwire.com

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Who can say... if Pacino had of taken the part, it might not have been as good. Pacino is not exactly known for his action as he is his psycho drama. It might have just been a bomb.

 

[sablebrush52]

It's a tradition. George Raft made Humphrey Bogart's career by repeatedly turning down roles that then went to Bogart.

 

[brian64]

At first the thought of Pacino as Rambo seemed a bit absurd...but the more I think about it, the first movie, First Blood, was actually pretty good...and very different from the ridiculous sequels...and I could actually see Pacino in that one. And my guess is he would have declined doing any sequels.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

It's a tradition. George Raft made Humphrey Bogart's career by repeatedly turning down roles that then went to Bogart.

And then ended up tied into/working for organized crime in the UK, lol. Raft had some great roles - and he was a favorite of Barney and Thelma Lou.

 

[mso489]

Sylvester made Rambo his own so now even a more likely suspect (Chuck Norris maybe?) doesn't seem quite right. Most of the roles Pacino took seem more appropriate to him. Zillions of dollars aside, he made the right choices. Pacino isn't worried about paying his electric bill.

 

[mortonbriar]

I think it worked out right.

That article was terribly written by the way.

 

[ThermionicScott]

Frank Sinatra was offered the lead role in "Die Hard", as he had played the character in a much-earlier movie. Probably for the best that he turned it down.

 

[Hillcrest]

Frank Sinatra was offered the lead role in "Die Hard", as he had played the character in a much-earlier movie. Probably for the best that he turned it down.

Still... I'm just not seeing that ...

 

[ADKPiper]

It seems hilarious to me. Remember that at that time it was still Pacino 1.0. Not the Heat and Scent Of A Woman version.
More like Scarecrow or Serpico.
Best case scenario is Tony Montana.
"Say hello to my little friend!"
In any case I can't see how it would have been anything but hilarious.
I just can't see Colonel Troutman warning the sheriff about Al Pacino the killing machine.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I would be more surprised if you'd have told me that Dustin Hoffman had turned down the role, ha ha.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

It seems hilarious to me. Remember that at that time it was still Pacino 1.0. Not the Heat and Scent Of A Woman version.
More like Scarecrow or Serpico.
Best case scenario is Tony Montana.
"Say hello to my little friend!"
In any case I can't see how it would have been anything but hilarious.
I just can't see Colonel Troutman warning the sheriff about Al Pacino the killing machine.

Or even Dog Day Afternoon Pacino - especially if he can bring along Sal.

 

[simong]

And then ended up tied into/working for organized crime in the UK,

Really? Please tell us more. I heard he got refused entry to the UK, due his ‘underworld’ connections but don’t know more than that.
Loved watching George Raft! Not perhaps, the best actor, but one of the best presences on screen, I always thought. Handy with his fists too, was George. He beat up Edward G Robinson on set once, apparently. Lol
He could move too, check him out ‘moon dancing’ here. Eat your heart out, Michael Jackson!

He still had it as an old man, busting some moves at the London palladium in the 60’s.

 

[brian64]

I would be more surprised if you'd have told me that Dustin Hoffman had turned down the role, ha ha.

That would definitely be the 2023 Rambo.

 

[STP]

Fan of Al Pacino, but Sylvester Stallone was the better choice for Rambo… and he wasn’t originally considered to play Rocky:

The Actors Who Almost Played Rocky Balboa Before Stallone's Casting

The producers didn't want Stallone...

screenrant.com

 

[kcghost]

Stallone is the only Rambo.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

I would be more surprised if you'd have told me that Dustin Hoffman had turned down the role, ha ha.

James Mason lobbied hard for it!

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Oop

Really? Please tell us more. I heard he got refused entry to the UK, due his ‘underworld’ connections but don’t know more than that.
Loved watching George Raft! Not perhaps, the best actor, but one of the best presences on screen, I always thought. Handy with his fists too, was George. He beat up Edward G Robinson on set once, apparently. Lol
He could move too, check him out ‘moon dancing’ here. Eat your heart out, Michael Jackson!

He still had it as an old man, busting some moves at the London palladium in the 60’s.

Oops, fact check. You are correct, they hired him and he couldn’t take the job!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

James Mason lobbied hard for it!

Wouldn’t he have been like a 60 year old Rambo?

 

[bullet08]

Arnold Schwarzenegger should have been the Rambo. Imagine this.. Finnish solder from Winter war join Nazi just to fight Russians. Then capture by US, and sign on to fight more. Then go to Korea to fight Russian toadies, and later end up in Vietnam. I think there was an actual person who did that. Lauri Allan Törni. He really didn't like Russians. Of course, Arnold will have to loose some bulk for the role.