It’s no secret that Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone didn’t get along in the 80s and 90s. The two Hollywood action icons shared a legendary rivalry that shaped an entire era of action cinema. The pair were constantly trying to one-up the other in every way possible. While each had their successes, they also made some mistakes while trying to be the king of the box office.

In 1992, Sylvester Stallone made one such mistake that nearly derailed his career. The Terminator star got an offer to star in a comedy. While Twins (1988) was a massive hit, Arnie didn’t think he was cut out to be a regular in the comedy genre. Aiming to beat Arnie, Sly picked up the film. However, the film turned into a disaster as critics shredded it in reviews, and it earned only $70 million worldwide. Since then, the discourse has been that the bodybuilding legend baited the Rocky actor into starring in the film. However, Arnie finally clarified what actually happened.

Arnold Schwarzenegger thought things through before passing on the role

During Arnold Schwarzenegger’s recent interview with The New York Times, reported David Marchese asked the bodybuilding icon about?Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot. Marchese asked Schwarzenegger if he deliberately tricked Stallone.?“You trying to bait Stallone into taking it, even though you knew it was a turkey. Is that right?”?he asked. The actor said things were?“a little more complicated.”

The 76-year-old FUBAR actor said he read the script.?“I thought it was terrible,”?Schwarzenegger told the New York Times, but he also doubted his judgment.?“Maybe I just don?t have the sense of humor,” the Austrian thought. So he debated for a while. However, his agent called Arnie on the phone to inform him that if he didn’t take it, Sly would.

The Terminator actor wasn’t ready to give up the role to Stallone so easily.?“No, hold on a second. Let me think this through,” Schwarzenegger told his agent. Yet, the bodybuilding legend thought even Sly would find the script unimpressive. So the Predator actor told his agent to tell the studio he was?“really interested.” To the former Mr. Olympia’s surprise, his agent called back and told him,?“Well, Arnold was a little slow.”?Puzzled by the statement, Schwarzenegger asked what was going on.?“Sly took it,”?informed his agent. While the 1992 film failed, Arnie’s following venture failed too.

When the Last Action Hero shattered the superstar’s spirit

While Schwarzenegger passed on?Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot,?he expected a lot from?The Last Action Hero (1993). After reading the script, the Terminator actor felt impressed. The film wasn’t a run-of-the-mill action flick. Instead, the John McTiernan film parodied many of the cliches of the action film genre. However, the response was dismal.

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The Last Action Hero fell flat in theaters. Audiences had mixed reactions, while critics dragged it through the mud. While the film made a profit, it underperformed, shattering the bodybuilding icon’s spirit. Arnie sank into depression and thought his career was finished. However, the action star bounced back with True Lies.

While Arnold Schwarzenegger did plan to trick his rival, Sly took the bait even before Arnie decided to spring the trap. Fortunately, Sylvester Stallone bounced back with the action-adventure Cliffhanger in 1993.

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