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Sylvester Stallone once had big dreams of bringing a biopic about the legendary writer Edgar Allan Poe to the big screen. However, the project never materialized, despite the actor’s clear passion for the idea. One of the most talked-about reasons for the film’s lack of progress was Stallone’s decision to wait for Robert Downey Jr. to become “hot again.” The Rocky star had approached Downey Jr. to play the lead role of Poe, and the Iron Man actor even agreed to take on the part. But Stallone had one condition: he wanted to wait until Downey Jr. was at the peak of his career before moving forward with the film.
In an interview with Roger Ebert, Stallone opened up about the film, explaining that he was in the process of writing the script at the time. Stallone shared, “The one thing I’m not gonna do is, I’m not gonna be Eugene O’Neill and write about my private demons. I want to write for the public. My next movie is going to be about three brothers who live in New Jersey. And then there’s one I’m writing about Edgar Allan Poe and his child bride, Virginia.”
Stallone clarified that his vision for the movie wasn’t about diving into Poe’s personal, dark realities. Instead, he wanted to capture the writer’s “spirits”—his creative essence—without turning the film into a drag about Poe’s tragic real life. He wanted the movie to be an engaging portrayal, avoiding a two-hour-long dive into the heavy, grim realities of Poe’s life.
In a 2006 interview, Robert Downey Jr. confirmed that he had met with Stallone to discuss the project. Downey Jr. admitted that while he was excited about the opportunity, Stallone had suggested they wait until his career was back on track before making the film. Downey Jr. recalled, “He said I should wait until I’m hot again. ‘We should wait until you’re hot again so we can do this at a big studio. I don’t want to do this cheap.’”
Despite nearly two decades having passed since Stallone first revealed his dream of making the Edgar Allan Poe biopic, the 78-year-old actor hasn’t given up on the idea. While the film remains unmade, Stallone’s dedication to the project shows his commitment to bringing this unique vision to life, even if it’s still waiting for the right moment.