Sylvester Stallone to Star in, Produce Original Thriller Samaritan

It’s rare nowadays to see Sylvester Stallone in a role that’s not a return to an old character (Creed), a sequel to a sequel (Expendables 3), or just dropping a follow-up on audiences 20 years after the predecessor (Rambo), but that is the case with the forthcoming film Samaritan. Samaritan is an original concept in which a young boy is determined to discover if a superhero who vanished 20 years prior is still alive, per Deadline.

The project is being produced by MGM and Balboa Productions, the latter a new name on the production circuit but backed by Stallone’s decades-long career in the industry. Stallone’s partner in Balboa Productions is Braden Aftergood, and Samaritan marks their first project together.

Julius Avery (Overlord) is set to direct, telling Deadline of the project, “Sly [Stallone] is a hero of mine, I’m incredibly thrilled to be working with such an iconic actor on this very special project with Balboa Productions and MGM.”

The film’s script is written by Braig F. Schut (Escape Room), who will also serve as an executive producer. Shooting is set to begin early next year. Also in the works at Balboa Productions is a biopic about the first African-American heavyweight champion, boxer Jack Johnson, so it seems Stallone won’t be straying far from the ring after all.