Sylvester Stallone has found his next role post-Rambo, as the actor is set to star in an alternate take on the superhero genre called “Samaritan” at MGM, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.
Julius Avery (“Overlord”) will direct the feature about a boy searching to see if an old, mythic superhero is still alive after he vanished 20 years earlier following a tragic event. “Samaritan” will begin production early next year, and MGM has dated the film for release on Nov. 20, 2020.
Bragi F. Schut wrote the screenplay based on an original idea. Stallone will produce the film along with his partner at Balboa Productions Braden Aftergood, making the film the first project for their new company. Schut will also serve as an executive producer.
MGM is also developing another project with Balboa Productions about the life of the boxer Jack Johnson, who became the first African American heavyweight boxing champion during the height of the Jim Crow era.
Stallone just starred in “Rambo: Last Blood,” the fifth and final Rambo film that was released by Lionsgate and Millennium and opened this weekend to approximately $19 million at the domestic box office.
Stallone and Balboa Productions are represented by CAA. Schut is represented by Verve, Realm Management, and Eclipse Law Corporation. Avery is represented by CAA and Brillstein Entertainment Partners, and Gang, Tyre.
Deadline first reported the news of the project.
This article was updated on Tuesday, Sept. 24 to reflect that “Samaritan” was given a release date by the studio.