There's something truly special about The Suicide Squad. In fact, there are a number of special things about The Suicide Squad. Harley Quinn's fantastical hallway fight scene, Bloodsport's surprisingly heartwarming backstory, Ratcatcher 2 who is precious and must be protected at all costs, it's a film chock full of instant memories. But perhaps none are as impactful as the King Shark himself, Nanaue. Not only did he capture the hearts of millions, but he helped grab a rather monumental new milestone for Sylvester Stallone.
Stallone, the eternal beefcake who provided the voice for Nanaue, has just reached a new career-high thanks to The Suicide Squad. With this film's quick climb to the top of the box office charts, Stallone can now officially say that he's starred in a number 1 film for each of the past 6 decades. This may not seem possible to some, but rest assured it's well within the abilities of a man who has starred as underdog boxer Rocky Balboa, a talking shark, and pretty much everything in between.
Stallone himself appears humbled by the news, posting his heartfelt gratitude on Instagram for all the internet to see. Taking a screenshot from a Deadline article that broke the news, he added a wholesome caption thanking the moviegoing public (and director James Gunn specifically) for making such a thing possible. "Thank you for making me feel like I'm on top of the world. It's been a great career thanks to all of you! Keep punching, sly. Thank you @jamesgunn." Note, it's unclear whether he's telling everyone to keep punching and signing off with his name, or just telling himself to keep punching. Frankly, it's probably more fun to not know.
The Deadline article in question compiles a list of the films that make up Stallone's new record. The 1970s saw his breakout movie Rocky dominate the charts, while the '80s got a twofer with some Rocky sequels and the birth of the Rambo series. The '90s and the 2000s kept the streak going with Cliffhanger and Driven, respectively, while he showed the world he's still got it with the surprise hit The Expendables in the 2010s. Cap that all off with The Suicide Squad in 2021, and baby, he's got a stew going. This makes it all the more surprising to discover that Stallone won't be appearing in the next Creed film.
It really is a remarkable career that Stallone has kept going all these years. From the starving actor who got his big break with Rocky to one of the most recognizable names and faces in Hollywood, it's clear the man has no intention of slowing down. Heck, even age isn't likely to stop him, thanks to the largely non-physical task of voicing Nanaue. So as long as these loopholes stay there, it wouldn't be surprising to see him add the 2030s to that list.
Big accomplishments like this are always fun to celebrate. The world of movies seems to change quicker and quicker every year, so knowing that one of the great names from the true classics is still kicking might just be the pick-me-up some people need right now. Here's to Stallone, and to The Suicide Squad. May there always be roles for the former and nom noms for the latter.
The Suicide Squad is now playing in theaters and on HBO Max.
Source: Deadline