Rambo could be coming to the small screen but if it does, it will be with a new face as its central star: Sylvester Stallone says he won't reprise his iconic role as John Rambo.
Independent studio Entertainment One on Wednesday announced that it had inked a pact with Avi Lerner's Nu Image to develop and co-produce a TV series based on the Rambo property. In a news release announcing the project, the companies noted that they were in negotiations with Stallone to be involved with the project "on a creative level" as well as to "potentially reprise his iconic role as the original Rambo." But a Stallone representative tells The Hollywood Reporter that no such reprisal is going to happen.
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"While a television series based on the Rambo property is in development with Entertainment One and Nu Image, contrary to reports, Sylvester Stallone will certainly not reprise his role as the iconic John Rambo for the small screen," Stallone's press representative at Rogers and Cowan tells THR.
Stallone may still be involved in a creative capacity, but "he himself will not portray the character in the series," the rep says.
eOne and Nu Image will develop the series and shop it to broadcasters in the U.S. and internationally.
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"I'm happy to be partnering with a prolific company like Entertainment One who has a track record of creating high-quality programming for their broadcast partners around the world,” Lerner said in a Wednesday statement announcing the Rambo revival. "And I'm excited by the prospect of collaborating again with my good friend Sly for an encore in this next phase of the Rambo legacy."
E-mail: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
Twitter: @Snoodit
