If Kirk Douglas had gotten his wish from First Blood, Sylvester Stallone’s action movie franchise never would have gotten off the ground. The legendary Hollywood star, responsible for classics like Spartacus and Ace in the Hole, nearly had a major role in the first Rambo movie.

Released in 1982, First Blood was a critical and commercial success and a mᴀssive triumph for Sylvester Stallone, so much that it paved the way for one of two long-running movie franchises for the action hero. Thanks to the film, Stallone has now had five opportunities to play John Rambo on the big screen.

Admittedly, the quality of the films vary widely, but the length of the series speaks to its enduring popularity and relevance. The franchise has spanned decades, with Rambo’s last movie hitting theaters as recently as 2019. But none may have been possible if Kirk Douglas had appeared in First Blood.

Kirk Douglas Insisted On Rambo Dying In First Blood’s Ending

Kirk Douglas Would Only Agree To Be In First Blood If Rambo Died

Before Richard Crenna was cast as Colonel Trautman (Rambo’s superior officer and mentor in the military), Kirk Douglas was offered the role – which he then accepted. However, disagreements over the trajectory of the story led to Douglas departing the project.

Kirk Douglas’ casting in First Blood would have derailed any hopes for a franchise, considering the conditions that came with his potential involvement. According to Kirk Douglas’ autobiography, The Ragman’s Son, he was of the opinion that Trautman needed to kill Rambo at the end of the movie.

He liked the idea of Rambo being akin to a “Frankenstein’s monster,” and argued that Trautman – as the person who created him – needed to be the one who brought Rambo down at the end of First Blood.

I thought it would be better, dramatically, if my character realized what a Frankenstein monster, amoral killer, and menace to society he has created and kills Stallone.

Rambo getting killed by Trautman actually matches the character’s ending in the book. However, Stallone’s movie was supposed to abandon it. Douglas had convinced them – at least temporarily – to return to that ending. As Douglas pointed out, following his direction would have meant, “There would have been no Rambos.”

Why First Blood Didn’t Use The Book’s Ending

The Book Ending Was Deemed Too Dark

As for why First Blood embraced Kirk Douglas’ idea to follow the book only to go against it again, that reasoning can be attributed to efforts to avoid an extremely dark ending. In the book, Trautman is one who pulls the trigger, but Rambo lets it happen. In other words, his death was a form of suicide. There were concerns that this may have been too tragic.

Avoiding such an outcome – rather than leaving the door open for sequels – led to Rambo surviving First Blood’s big finale. The decision cost them the inclusion of a screen legend in Kirk Douglas – but paved the way for four more Rambo movies.