Sylvester Stallone is about to play a hero named neither Rocky nor John Rambo.
This time, the tough-guy actor stars in “Samaritan,” a superhero flick set to air on August 26 on Amazon Prime. On Monday, the studio released stills from the film, and the 76-year-old legend looks to be in top form.
“I love action films that also have heart,” Stallone said in a statement released by the studio. “I wanted to be involved with ‘Samaritan’ because this story has many layers that I think people can relate to. It’s something of a morality tale that is also very exciting to watch.”
Stallone naturally plays the superhero who provides the movie with its name and who has been hiding in retirement as “Joe Smith” for 20 years since a battle with his rival, Nemesis. His teenage neighbor tempts him to go back to fighting crime in order to save Granite City.
Stallone’s co-stars in the Julius Avery-directed movie include Javon Walton, comedian Martin Starr, and Pilou Asbaek, who fans know from “Game of Thrones.”
Stallone plays “Samaritan,” a superhero who comes out of retirement to save Granite City. (Amazon Prime)
It’s the star’s first live-action role since 2019’s “Rambo: Last Blood.” He has a fourth installment of his lucrative “The Expendables” franchise in the works, in which he will bring back his role of Barney Ross alongside Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, and Randy Couture. Megan Fox and 50 Cent are also set to star in the film.
Later this year, Stallone will star in the TV series “Tulsa King,” playing a Mafia boss fresh out of prison and seeking to build an empire in Oklahoma.
The film is due out next month on Amazon Prime. (Amazon Prime)
Stallone, a longtime Hollywood conservative, has starred in dozens of films since his first breakthrough role in 1974’s “The Lords of Flatbush.” At the Academy Awards, he was nominated twice for “Rocky,” one for Best Original Screenplay and one for Best Actor. He also drew a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his role in 2016’s “Creed.”