Rocky Balboa and John Rambo are roles which made Sylvester Stallone a star. As big screen franchises, they also became American heroes, or in Rambo's case an anti-hero that represented patriotism and a certain agenda.
These days, however, Stallone has tried to distance himself from any label or rhetoric attached to his work, telling The Hollywood Reporter he didn't intend for his films to have a political message.
"I'm almost like a political atheist," Stallone said. "[Rambo] was never supposed to be, by any means, a political statement. It became one."
In spite of his endorsements of Republican politicians in the past, Stallone dismissed the idea he is political and said it was forced on him. "I don't think I'm smart enough. That's not my strength," he said. "I'm not a political animal. I never have been. I don't want to be. I'm just a storyteller. But, oh my God, once Reagan said, 'I saw Rambo, and he's a Republican!'"
Stallone then slapped his forehead and dropped the microphone, which drew applause and laughter from a crowd he was speaking to. He said the same for Rocky, where Stallone had the American flag draped around him and on his trunks, as well as those of Apollo Creed. "He's not a political animal," he explained. "Boxers just use the flag of their nation. They're not saying, 'We're better than you.'"
Stallone officially retired from the role of Rocky after Creed II and will reprise his role as Rambo one last time in Rambo: Last Blood.