Dolph Lundgren nearly punched Sylvester Stallone on set of The Expendables

20 July 2023 , 19:51

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Dolph Lundgren admits he nearly punched Sylvester Stallone on set of The Expendables

Dolph Lundgren has recalled the time he wanted to punch Sylvester Stallone while they were working together on the first The Expendables movie in 2010.

Sylvester directed the movie, his second time in the chair after 1985's Rocky IV, meaning they have had a working relationship for more than three decades.

However, it hasn't all been smooth sailing as Dolph explained that there were "some good times and bad times" with Sylvester, stating that they were "kinda like family to some degree".

In particular, the Swedish star brought up an instance on the set of The Expendables where they butted heads, prompting director Sylvester to "yell" at him in front of the crew, criticise his performance and make him "do about 20 takes" for one scene.

Dolph Lundgren recalled the time that he wanted to punch Sylvester Stallone (Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images)

Dolph said Sylvester 'yelled' at him on the set of The Expendables (Getty Images)

Dolph said: "We took a lunch break, and I remember I was kind of in tears. I was really upset. I called my wife that time and I basically just told her, 'If he says one more word, I'm gonna knock him out and f*** this movie, I'm outta here. I'm just gonna punch him out and f***ing leave.'

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Speaking further on In Depth With Graham Bensinger, he continued: "And I think when I walked on the set, people felt it wasn't such a good vibration. And then I had a tap on the back, and it was Sly.

"And he was like, 'Uh, I'm sorry about that. Let's just do another take, and let's just keep moving on.'"

Labelling him a "crazy Italian", Dolph went on to explain that the pair have had a "few run-ins over the years" but he has always "respected him and loved him".

He also made it clear that they were both "still friends".

All is well with between the pair now (AFP via Getty Images)

Dolph will forever be linked to Rocky after playing Ivan Drago, Sylvester's nemesis, in the fourth instalment of the blockbuster boxing series.

On the personal front, Dolph Lundgren wed his partner Emma Krokdal this week after being given the devastating diagnosis of "two to three years to live".

The actor has been battling cancer for eight years but only opened up about his diagnosis for the first time in May.

He said the first tumour was found in his kidney eight years ago and treated, but the cancer spread to his lungs, spine, liver and stomach, and in 2020 he was sadly told the cancer was terminal.

Outside of his appearance in the Rocky movies, Dolph also appeared in many films across the 1990s, including the Universal Soldier film series from 1992, Showdown in Little Tokyo, and I Come in Peace.

Jabeen Waheed