80s action legendDolph Lundgrenreveals what he learned from working with Sylvester Stallone onRocky IV, and how this later evolved withThe Expendablesfranchise. Lundgren became a European karate champion in 1980-81, before moving to New York City to study acting in the mid-1980s, eventually securing his movie debut with a supporting role in theJames Bond movieAView to a Kill. Following this, Lundgren went on to have a strong career as an action hero in movies throughout the 1980s and 1990s, includingRed Scorpion,Masters of the Universe,Showdown in Little Tokyo, andUniversal Soldier.
In a panel withScreen Rantat Fan Expo San Francisco,The Punisherstar discusses what he learned working with Stallone onRocky IV, and how their relationship evolved in their reunion 25 years later. Lundgren’s breakout role came in 1985 when he portrayed Soviet boxer Ivan Drago inRocky IV. After many years of treading different career paths, the two men would reunite once again when Stallone cast Lundgren in his 2010 action homageThe Expendables. Check out his quotes below:
I obviously was very starstruck when I first met him and impressed by him. I’d seen him in the movies. I saw his incredible focus, determination, and planning. Nothing was done at the last minute – you could always change things at the last minute, but there was meticulous planning, and I was very impressed by that. The fact that he wrote, directed, produced, and costarred? He was actually in the ring with this 10 years younger, European karate champion – and keeping up with me. I was impressed by that.
But mostly the fact that he really thought it through. A lot of times these days, people don’t have time to prepare so much for movies. But I prepared for a year, and I knew I had the part for about eight months instead of eight weeks. So, I learned from his preparation, attention to detail, and the hard work ethic that I think I’ve tried to live up to in my career.
In 2009, I’d taken a 90% salary probably from my heights, from the early ‘90s to 2009. I hadn’t been on the big screen for about 15 years, and my agent called me and said, “Sylvester Stallone has this script he wants you read.” I was like, “Oh, s—t. He still writes scripts? I didn’t know that.” I got the script sent to me in LA, and it had had a skull with a raven sitting on top of it, and it said The Expendables. So, I was very curious, started reading, and it was of course really funny and amazing.
I was like, “Okay, I think I got my role here in Gunner Jensen.” Of course, I loved the script, and it was an interesting character I was playing. In the original script, he’s a drug user who’s screwed up, and I actually get killed in the movie because I betray them. They mistreat me a little bit, and I get mad and betray them, and then I get killed. But I loved the part, and it was a great characterization.
I showed up on set for the first time, and I hadn’t seen him for maybe 10 years. We were hugging, and it was great to see him. He was directing in New Orleans with a megaphone like, “[Stallone voice] Go to your left, go to your right, stop.” It was vintage Stallone, and we had a great time together. The first scene I shot was a scene where my character wants to get a job and Stallone’s character, Barney Ross, pulls up in his car. I’m just standing there, and I lean into the window, and he kind of gets startled… He’s like, “You’re still using,” and all that.
Then in the first take, we have this argument just by instinct. He stepped close to me, and I pushed him, and I could hear the crew was like, “S–t.” Last time they saw me and him, we were fighting right before, so they say cut. But he was directing, and then he comes to me and goes, “Next take, pushing me harder.” Okay, here we go. It was the beginning of a wonderful friendship, and we’ve been friends
What These Comments Mean For Lundgren & Stallone’s Working Relationship
The Two Clearly Have A Strong Bond On & Off-Screen
As Lundgren’s comments suggest, when he first worked with Stallone onRocky IVhe was a young up-and-coming actor in the shadow of a legend.He clearly revered Stallone, and was inspired by his work ethic and attention to detail, and this is something that is bound to have had an impact on the Stockholm native as he has transitioned into directing himself. Lundgren’s dedication to the role of Drago would no doubt have impressed Stallone, especially after he put his director in hospital during their fight scene.
There is little question that Stallone played a role in reviving Lundgren’s career, with the Swede appearing in bothAquamanmovies since hisExpendablesdebut
Considering the two men were career rivals for some time afterRocky IV, both trying to carve out niches in the world of action movies, the factStallone and Lundgren reunited on-screen, becoming firm friends, 25 years later, says a lot for the power of filmmaking. It is clear that when they reunited withThe Expendables,Lundgren had grown in confidence as a performer, and, added to the fact that he was asked to appear in the film, it seems that they both butted heads initially, but then understood one another, and became friends as a result.
Our Verdict On Lundgren’s Professional Future With Stallone
The Two Men Could Reunite Again
There is little question that Stallone played a role in revivingLundgren’s career, with the Swede appearing in bothAquamanmovies since hisExpendablesdebut, and there is a good chance that both men could work together again in the future. Despite the controversy surrounding the Drago spinoff, both could return forThe Expendables 5, and might even reunite for future projects, with the duo seemingly enjoying their on-screen relationship.
