December 21, 2025 – Hollywood legend Sylvester Stallone will not star in the highly anticipated Cliffhanger reboot, the 1993 action classic that many fans hoped would see the 79-year-old actor return to one of his iconic roles.
Stallone stepped away from the project after financial and scheduling issues could not be resolved. Producers Neal H. Moritz and Toby Jaffe had spent years planning the film with Stallone in mind as the lead, but a guaranteed fee—a key condition for the actor’s involvement—was never finalized, preventing him from signing a contract.
The actor had reportedly planned to shoot his scenes during a break from his hit television series Tulsa King, but financial disagreements became a major hurdle, leading to significant changes in the production.
A new director has been hired, and the lead roles were recast, with Lily James and Pierce Brosnan now taking center stage. Fans have also observed Stallone taking smaller roles in recent films, such as Expendables 4, signaling a shift in his on-screen focus.
Co-star Jason Statham mentioned that Stallone’s reduced presence affected set dynamics, as new characters assumed a more prominent role in the story. Experts say Stallone’s departure reflects a broader trend in Hollywood, where veteran stars sometimes step away from major projects due to money, scheduling conflicts, or creative differences.
Sylvester Stallone continues to work on Tulsa King, but the Cliffhanger reboot will move forward without one of action cinema’s most iconic stars.