Sylvester Stallone has built his career on major movie franchises, but in recent years, it seems like they have been slipping away from him. As a star who’ll always be known for iconic roles like Rocky Balboa and John Rambo, movie franchises have been the bread and ʙuттer of much of Stallone’s cinematic output for decades now.

Whether it’s classic action franchises of the 1980s like Rambo or more recent ensemble series such as The Expendables, Stallone has thrived in ongoing properties as audiences consistently turned out to see him. However, the 2020s have not been great for Stallone, as he has been continually sidelined and watched others step into roles where he used to be front and center.

The Major Movie Franchises Sylvester Stallone Has Lost Since 2023

The absence of Sylvester Stallone in Creed III foreshadowed a career shift, marking the start of his separation from franchises he was once essential to. Though he was pivotal in the first two Creed films, Stallone clashed with the series’ creative direction and stated (via Hollywood Reporter) there was no longer room for Rocky Balboa in the story.

With Rocky no longer an active part of the Creed franchise, you’d think that would give Stallone time to focus on his other major characters. However, the star’s final outing as the Vietnam War veteran John Rambo in Last Blood from 2019 was torn apart by critics, and a reboot of the franchise has been announced without Stallone’s involvement.

While Stallone once joked he could reprise his role as Rambo using de-aging technology in a prequel story (via Bingeworthy), director Jalmari Helander has since been hired to make his own prequel set before the events of First Blood тιтled John Rambo. In 2025, it was announced that Noah Centineo had been cast in the lead role.

Even The Expendables, a franchise created, written, and starring Stallone, has opted to move away from his character, Barney Ross. Rather than make a fifth Expendables movie with Stallone front and center, if the series were to continue, it would likely shift its focus to Jason Statham’s character, Lee Christmas, who took over as the leader of the mercenary team.

There are also one-off Stallone movies that have slipped away from him, such as the 1993 hit Cliffhanger, which is set to be rebooted without his involvement. While there had been previous plans for Stallone to return for Cliffhanger 2, in 2023, it was announced that the film would be rebooted, with Lily James and Pierce Brosnan joining the cast.

Sylvester Stallone’s Biggest Success Story In The 2020s Is A TV Show

Although many consider Sylvester Stallone one of the biggest movie stars of all time, in the 2020s, he has seen most of his success on television. Much like his old rival Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Netflix series FUBAR, Stallone also leads his own show on Paramount+ тιтled Tulsa King.

Tulsa King gave Stallone fresh success as a leading man after his film career hit some bumps. Playing an American mafia capo released after 25 years in prison, the role added new depth to his career. As Stallone’s first scripted TV role, the series proved he still has the charisma to command the screen.

While Stallone has had to contend with losing his franchises, he hasn’t been completely ousted from Hollywood, as memorable roles like King Shark in The Suicide Squad and Stakar Ogord in Guardians of the Galaxy have demonstrated his potential in the superhero genre. However, these roles were relatively minor compared to when he was used to being the lead.

James Mangold’s Upcoming Cop Land TV Show Would Be Perfect For Stallone

With so many of Sylvester Stallone’s major franchises having moved on without him in recent years, it feels like it’s time for him to reclaim old parts of his career and remind audiences why he’s such an icon to begin with. A great way of achieving this would be through James Mangold’s upcoming Cop Land television series.

Mangold directed the original Cop Land movie back in 1997, and it was a surprisingly dramatic turn from Stallone, who held his own alongside major dramatic stars like Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, and Harvey Keitel. This release proved that Stallone was much more than a simple action hero, as his role as Sheriff Freddy Heflin was deep and complex.

With a Cop Land series reportedly (via Variety) in the works at Miramax, Stallone reprising his role as the morally upright small-town sheriff could be just the boost he needs, as it would remind audiences that there’s far more to him than Rocky and Rambo. In the politically turbulent times of today, Cop Land also feels more relevant than ever.

The 2020s have been an unusual time to be a Stallone fan, as numerous projects related to his old work have been announced, yet they never seem to include him in them. With serious star power and an impressive legacy in Hollywood, a big Sylvester Stallone comeback feels inevitable, and the Cop Land series would be a great next move.

Sources: Hollywood Reporter, Bingeworthy, Variety