In a recent episode of 'The Tonight Show,' Sylvester Stallone made an unexpected announcement that caught the attention of action movie enthusiasts. He expressed his approval and gave his blessing to Ryan Gosling to potentially take on the role of Rambo, should the iconic action franchise be revived. Stallone, known for his portrayal of the United States Army Special Forces veteran in five films, including the 1982 classic 'Rambo,' had seemingly bid farewell to the franchise with the release of 'Rambo: Last Blood' in 2019.
The decision to endorse Gosling for the role came about after the two actors met at a dinner. Stallone shared that he was drawn to Gosling's fascination with the character of Rambo, revealing that Gosling used to dress up as Rambo for school and even incorporated the character into his vacations. Stallone recounted, 'He just kept saying that he had a lot of affiliation with Rambo... If I ever pass the baton, I'll pass it on to him because he loves the character.'
When further questioned about the choice of Gosling, Stallone humorously mentioned their contrasting appearances. He recognized that Gosling's undeniable good looks might raise some eyebrows, stating, 'I would say yes, but I don't know if anyone would say, 'Hey, he's too good-looking to be Rambo.'' Interestingly, it seems that Gosling himself is no stranger to the world of Rambo. In a previous appearance on 'The Tonight Show' in 2011, Gosling confessed his childhood infatuation with the character, to the point where he believed he was Rambo and even threw toy knives at his classmates during recess.
It's worth noting that Stallone's self-deprecating comment about not being able to pull off Gosling's Oscar-nominated role as Ken in 'Barbie' carries a touch of irony. Stallone had actually served as visual inspiration for Ken's distinctive style according to Gosling. The mink coat that Ken wore in the film was inspired by Stallone's fashion choices in the 1980s. 'As long as Ken was wearing it, he was the Ken with the mink - and that separated him from the other Kens,' Gosling shared in a previous interview.
While nothing has been officially confirmed regarding a revival of the Rambo franchise or Gosling's involvement, Stallone's endorsement has sparked excitement among fans. With Gosling already expressing his admiration for the character and his enthusiasm for taking on the role, it remains to be seen if this potential collaboration will come to fruition.
In the meantime, fans can anticipate Gosling's next foray into the action genre with the upcoming film 'The Fall Guy,' scheduled to kick off the summer movie season on May 3, distributed by Universal Studios. Whether or not he ultimately dons the iconic headband and combat attire of Rambo, it seems that Gosling's passion for the character has caught the attention and approval of the man who brought Rambo to life for decades.
