Sylvester Stallone's Long-Delayed Movie Gets Major Update 55 Years After Development Began

Sylvester Stallone’s project based on one of literature’s most iconic horror writers gets a new update after 55 years of development.

Stallone’s long-awaited Edgar Allan Poe project has received an unexpected update more than five decades after the actor first began developing it in 1971. Although he has spent years attempting to bring one of the country’s most recognizable authors to the big screen, he is now considering a different approach that could eventually help his project become a reality.

Stallone recently revealed during an appearance on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast with Marina Hyde that he has changed things up a little bit on his screenplay into a gothic graphic novel. The actor said that he hopes that if the graphic novel becomes successful, it could get picked up for a movie adaptation like superhero films and other comic books.

The actor explained that he revisited his script within the past two weeks, believing that adapting the story into a comic book could offer a more promising opportunity to have his story reach the big screen. He is also interested in collaborating with an established comic book creator who has already had many hit films based on their work. Stallone specifically mentioned Frank Miller would be someone he would like to work with, as he has had non-superhero films getting picked up by studios, such as Sin City.

It is important to keep in mind that although Stallone has expressed interest in potentially adapting the graphic novel into a feature film, neither venture has been confirmed publicly at the time of this article’s publication. There has been no announcement of a publishing agreement, an official partnership with Miller, or a studio moving forward with a movie adaptation.

Stallone has always been a fan of Poe’s work. His idea for this project goes all the way back to the 1970s, before his breakthrough film Rocky in 1976. The actor initially wrote a screenplay about the legendary author, who was the mastermind behind stories such as The Raven, The Tell-Tale Heart, and The Fall of the House of Usher. Poe is also credited by many with influencing the genre, turning it into what it is today.

When he first came up with the idea, Stallone had considered portraying Poe himself. He even did some costume tests to see how he would look if he ever took on the role of Poe. However, he eventually decided against starring in the movie because he believed that he wouldn’t be the best fit for the part.

There are currently no confirmed plans for Stallone’s Poe graphic novel or film at the time of this article’s publication.