Sly on Poe, Death Wish

Sylvester Stallone’s Edgar Allen Poe biopic has been a personal project since long before he climbed back in the ring as Rocky, but he’s still slowly trying to push it forward.

Discussing his long-planned film about the influential macabre author with Empire, Stallone jokes (let’s hope) about a theoretical conversation with his money man: “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!‘”

Stallone has often mentioned Robert Downey Jr. for the moody and hard-living writer, and Downey has mentioned an interest in playing the role — maybe someday soon their schedules will align.

Meanwhile, Sly is also still considering a remake of 1974 Chuck Bronson flick DEATH WISH: “It’s a classic morality tale, where you take a civilised man and take away everything that matters to him so he becomes primitive again.”

But Sly is fully aware of the potential pitfalls and familiarity issues: “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.”

Both projects will obviously have to wait a bit — RAMBO 5 is next for the action icon.