Coming off the heels of his role asStakar Ogrodin Marvel’s highly-anticipated superhero sequelGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,Sylvester Stalloneis eyeing a different superhero project. A new report claims the action icon is currently the front runner to play Duke McQueen in 20th Century Fox’s long-gestatingStarlightcomic book adaptation. Nothing is set in stone and the project doesn’t even have a director attached at this time, but ifSylvester Stallonedoes in fact come aboard, it could give this project new life.
Splash Reportfirst broke the news on this potential casting, which is the first we’ve heard about this project in quite some time. We first reported on this adaptation ofMark Millar’s comic book way back in December 2013, when 20th Century Fox won a bidding war for the project, where the studio beat out two unnamed companies for the rights to the project. At the time,Simon Kinbergwas attached to both produce and write the screenplay, but now he’s only attached as a producer.
Gary Whitta(Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) was brought on to write the screenplay in 2014, and the only other update we got on this project was in 2015, whenMark Millarclaimed that bothChrononauts and Starlightwould be his next two movies, neither of which have gone into production. It isn’t clear if there is any additional work on the script being done, or when 20th Century Fox may be placing this project on their production slate.Starlightwas first published by Image Comics in 2014, withMark Millarwriting the comics andGoran Parlovproviding the illustrations.
The story centers on Duke McQueen, a formerspace herowho has settled into retirement after saving the universe multiple times. With his wife long passed away and his children forming their own adventures, Duke lives a solitary life when he is called back into action, with a distant world needing his help.Mark Millarhas said that this comic was inspired by sci-fi serials that were published in the 1940s and 1950s, teasing that he has always been a fan of “old gunslinger stories,” which he is using an a sci-fi setting inStarlight.
Sylvester Stallone is enjoying a career resurgence over the past few years, which began with his Oscar-nominated performance as the iconic Rocky Balboa inCreed. He will next be seen inGuardians of the Galaxy 2, and he most recently wrapped production on the action-packed sequelEscape Plan 2: Hades, where he stars along anotherGuardians 2star,Dave Bautista. The studio has already given the green light forEscape Plan 3as well, withSylvester Stallonealso attached toIdol’s EyeandTough as they Come, which he would direct and star alongsideAdam Driver. Hopefully 20th Century Fox will officially announce thisStarlightcasting soon.
