I’m still so damned intrigued by the idea of Sly Stallone making an Edgar Allan Poe film that I almost wish that were coming at us next year instead of THE EXPENDABLES. Almost, mind you. With the announcement that RAMBO V is in full-swing, I’m beginning to wonder when – if ever – we’ll get a look at Sly’s vision for the morbid mastermind.
In an interview published by Empire Online, Stallone seems to be wondering the same thing. “I keep telling my producer Avi Lerner, ‘Make Edgar Allan Poe!’ He says, ‘Does he have a gun?’ ‘No, he doesn’t have a gun’, ‘Can he throw a knife?’ I say, ‘No, he writes poetry!'”
It’s refreshing to read him say that, as the natural Hollywood instinct would be to have a bad-ass version of Poe fighting monsters and chasing serial killers, VAN HELSING-style, as opposed to telling the true tale of his life. Whatever the case, Stallone is still optimistic it will get made, although not with him in the lead role. (Duh.) “Of course, I’m not playing Poe. ‘Yo, Poe!’ It won’t work! It’ll be some young actor because he dies at 39, but it’s gonna happen.” (For the record, Robert Downey, Jr. and Viggo Mortensen have both been mentioned for the role.)
And what of the DEATH WISH remake, which was announced a couple years ago? Stallone (who would star, as well as direct) sounds as if he’s cooled off on the idea a little. “The story’s been done many times, and when it’s done well, it’s an emotionally engaging film. The trouble with remakes is that people fall in love with the original. It’s like peanut butter. If you try to change the taste of peanut butter, you’re in trouble.”
Too true. This could all be moot by next year, however, if EXPENDABLES rakes in some cash, and RAMBO V looks to be another winner. Maybe he’ll be tempted to squeeze one more John Rambo story out before he turns… well, that’s better left unsaid.
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