Sylvester Stallone Reveals Taylor Sheridan's Hollywood Pivot: From Thug to Writer
STALION VS SHERIDAN: HOLLYWOOD'S MOST UNLIKELY DUO
In a shocking twist of fate, two of Hollywood's most iconic figures, Sylvester Stallone and Taylor Sheridan, have more in common than just their passion for creating blockbuster hits. According to Sly himself, the 79-year-old Italian Stallion has been following a similar trajectory to his Tulsa King creator, who had to "pivot big time" to survive in Tinseltown.
In an exclusive interview with People magazine, Sly revealed that he and Taylor shared a common bond - they both knew when it was time to switch gears and adapt to the ever-changing landscape of Hollywood. "There was a crossroads where I knew I was always going to be 'thug number three' coming through the door," Stallone confessed. "I saw the handwriting on the wall, and I had to make some serious changes."
Sly's words eerily echoed Taylor Sheridan's own journey in the industry. The 55-year-old Texan first started out as an actor, landing small roles in popular shows like Veronica Mars and Sons of Anarchy. However, after a decade of struggling to find consistent work, Sheridan made the bold decision to transition into screenwriting.
"I was frustrated," Taylor admitted in a recent interview. "I realized I wasn't going to be able to make it as an actor, so I had to learn to write."
Sly, who has been nominated for three Oscars, couldn't help but relate to Taylor's struggles. "He was a serious actor, but no one was giving him his break," Stallone explained. "I get his dilemma. I understand why he pursued another career - it wasn't because he wanted to, but because he had to."
The two industry heavyweights first crossed paths at a horse ranch, where Sly asked Taylor to collaborate on the script for the fourth Rambo film (released in 2008). Ten years later, Sheridan approached Stallone with an intriguing idea: "He said, 'You want to play a gangster out of water in Tulsa, Oklahoma?' I go, 'Oh - now there's a challenge. Absolutely.'"
Their unlikely partnership resulted in Taylor King, the critically-acclaimed dramedy that premiered on Paramount+ last Sunday. Sly not only reprised his role as Mafia capo Dwight "The General" Manfredi but also executive produced the show.
But what makes their story even more fascinating is that both Stallone and Sheridan are now unstoppable forces in Hollywood. Taylor has created a string of hit shows, including Landman, Mayor of Kingstown, and 1923, while Sly continues to wow audiences with his iconic films like Rocky and Rambo.
As for Taylor's personal life, he recently celebrated his 12th wedding anniversary with wife Nicole Muirbrook and is set to mark their son Gus's 16th birthday this Tuesday. However, it's clear that family will have to take a backseat when his next project rolls around - Taylor has already started brainstorming ideas for his next big show.
When asked about the secret to their success, Sly quipped, "We're both survivalists at heart." The two Hollywood legends are living proof that in this cutthroat industry, sometimes you need to adapt and evolve to stay ahead of the game.
