Sylvester Stallone Won’t “Breathe Same Air” as Arch-Rival Arnold Schwarzenegger: “I almost covet a good enemy”

Sylvester Stallone Won't "Breathe Same Air" as Arch-Rival Arnold Schwarzenegger
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A good on-screen rivalry can pack a full house, but when it sips in the real world, it captivates the entertainment world lovers even more. Such is the story of the two biggest Hollywood stars, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The enchanting tale of the enemies turned best friends does not fail to intrigue the fans. The two hated each other so much that they “couldn’t breathe the same air” in the starting days of their career only to realize the two were “cut from the same cloth.”

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Although the two now are great buddies, Stallone, in a Wall Street Journal interview, reflected on the time the two despised each other. He further credited the Austrian Oak for the majority of his success and stated how grateful he is to have a friend like him.

Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger
Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger

Also Read: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Best Friend Helped Sylvester Stallone Get More Ripped Than Arnie in $300M Movie

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Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger Were Each Other’s Stern Enemies

Well, it all started at a Golden Golbes award where one was snubbed by another. Thus began the rivalry. Two of the biggest Hollywood stars, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger have created their paths to success. Stallone cemented his name in the industry with films like Samaritan, Rambo, and The Expendables franchise, to name a few.

Schwarzenegger built his stardom little by little from scratch with movies like Commando, Escape Plan, and the Terminator movie series. Both being the leading star of the industry, did not consider each other a friend, although a little competition does no harm, it was reported the actors could not stand each other. In the Wall Street Journal interview, the Rocky actor stated,

“[Back in the day], we couldn’t breathe the same air. “

But then with time, they realized how alike they both were and decided to overcome their differences. He said,

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“I almost covet a good enemy. He really brings out the best of you.”

Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger in a still from The Expendables
Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger in a still from The Expendables

He really appreciated the tough competition his fellow actor put forth to ‘bring him down’, and in turn brought the best out of him in no time. The star continued saying,

“And then we eventually realized we’re pretty much cut from the same cloth — even though his cloth is more like itchy wool. I’m like silk.”

Schwarzenegger and Stallone soon realized they would be unstoppable once they form an alliance, and so they did, and their unique sense of humor helped to make the bond even stronger. Since then, their friendship has stood the test of time, and now they share one of the rarest bonds found in Hollywood.

Also Read: “He turned him into a furniture”: The Man Who Refused to Return Sylvester Stallone His Dog Laid Out One Strange Condition For the Rocky Star

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Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger Bonded Over Their Shared Similar Sense of Humor

After feuding for almost two decades, in the same WSJ interview, Stallone further revealed what brought them even closer together. He said,

“I try to find laughs when they’re not in abundance. Sometimes it gets a little irritating and people tell me, shut up. It’s like with me and Arnold. We have this caustic sense of humour, and we go at each other non-stop.”

Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger
Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger

In the year 1990, the Austrian and Rocky actor finally concluded their differences and decisively decided to sort out their problems, leaving their fans in awe as they danced the Waltz together at the 43rd Cannes film festival. Schwarzenegger stated,

“up until that point, we didn’t really hit it off well. We were very competitive and trying to derail each other at every angle and every possibility. And then, somehow, because we were working for the same company, we hugged at a party right about here. The Gipsy Kings were playing and we were holding onto each other and they said, ‘Do you want to dance?’ and he says, ‘Yeah.’ And so we were dancing, we were waltzing, around and around and around.”

Even though they had some initial difficulties, the action superstars are now each other’s closest allies and confidants. After deciding to move past their feuds, the two actors have now been spotted together more frequently, either attending social events or taking quick weekend getaways. In a unique and interesting way, the pair even spent their Halloween together. They took part in the activity of carving pumpkins and afterward spread the word of their fun moments from the festivities to their followers on social media.

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Also Read: Sylvester Stallone Had Denzel Washington’s Security Team On High Alert After Not Getting Invited To His Grand Party

Source: Wall Street Journal (via Toronto Sun)

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Written by Sampurna Banerjee

Articles Published: 958

Sampurna Banerjee, an ardent enthusiast of pop culture and movies, pours her passion into her role as a writer for FandomWire. With a penchant for Marvel, DC, and sitcoms, she has contributed over 400 articles, staying up-to-date to the entertainment industry's latest buzz. Moreover, she's penned over 300 articles for Animated Times and shared her work across several Instagram pages. Currently she is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Calcutta University.