Al Pacino was one of several actors considered for the part of John J. Rambo in the 1982 action-thriller First Blood, and his version would have been very different. The film adaptation of David Morrell’s 1972 novel of the same name, the leading Rambo role eventually went to Sylvester Stallone, who rewrote the screenplay to make the character more sympathetic. Had Al Pacino played John Rambo, however, the action hero would have differed greatly from Sylvester Stallone’s interpretation in a number of ways that are more faithful to David Morrell's original novel.
The development of a feature film based on David Morrell's novel began in the same year the book was published, but First Blood had a long, arduous path to the big screen as the adaptation bounced around Hollywood for several years with many different producers, directors, and lead actors attached at various times. At one point in the movie's development, David Rabe wrote a screenplay with Al Pacino in mind to star as John Rambo. This version of Rambo was closer to David Morrell’s original character than what Sylvester Stallone brought to the big screen in 1982.
4 Al Pacino Wanted To Make Rambo A "Madman"
Sylvester Stallone played Rambo as a detached veteran scarred from his experiences in the Vietnam War. He has very little dialogue throughout First Blood, and in one draft of the screenplay, Rambo even has no dialogue at all until his riveting final speech. David Morrell praised Stallone’s interpretation, while also acknowledging how the character's temperament had been changed for the screen, explaining (via Digital Spy), "In my novel, he’s very angry. In the movie, he’s a victim. And so they go for these almost deer-like, woe-is-me eyes."
Al Pacino allegedly wanted Rambo to be more of a "madman." In addition to undoubtedly giving the character more dialogue, Pacino’s interpretation would have made Rambo less of a sympathetic figure. However, Pacino’s idea would not have been too far off David Morrell’s original vision. In the novel, Rambo is more of the aggressor and even shows signs of frequent, sudden episodes of impulsive, aggressive, and violent behavior, as well as angry verbal outbursts due to his experiences in the Vietnam War. Someone exhibiting these symptoms would certainly be very different compared to Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo.
3 Pacino Wanted To Delve Deeper Into The Psychology of Rambo
In First Blood, Rambo’s actions are driven, in part, by the psychological effects from combat and torture he sustained during the Vietnam War. Although the movie never diagnoses Rambo with any disorder, it is strongly implied that Rambo has post-traumatic stress disorder. While in police custody, for example, Rambo has flashbacks to the torture he endured at the hands of the Viet Cong. Rambo’s one-man war that he wages on the police is an extreme culmination of his inner mindset.
Rambo is psychologically confused in First Blood, and if Al Pacino really wanted to delve further into Rambo's mind, then his portrayal could not have avoided offering a deeper exploration of the character's psychology than Stallone delivered in First Blood. Pacino, not far removed from his character study of a heroin addict in the 1971 drama The Panic in Needle Park, would have surely wanted to explore what makes the character of Rambo tick, and portray more of the psychological effects stemming from the veteran's troubled past, including violent outbursts.
2 Al Pacino Would Have Portrayed A Much More Violent Rambo
The Rambo franchise has become synonymous with muzzle-flashing, explosive action, but it was not until the First Blood sequels that the franchise actually took a more violent turn. In fact, Rambo kills only one person in First Blood, and only in self-defense. In the First Blood DVD commentary Drawing First Blood, producer Andrew Vajna confirms that the original script made Rambo feel like a wild killer, and the decision was made to deliberately move away from that tone. Sylvester Stallone's version of Rambo proved more sympathetic and acceptable to mainstream audiences, which meant removing much of the killing from the source material.
Had David Rabe's screenplay been made with Al Pacino in the leading role, First Blood would have more closely resembled the bloodthirsty John Rambo seen in the pages of David Morrell’s novel. This approach could have worked, as audiences came to love the over-the-top action and high kill counts that dominated later Rambo movies. On the other hand, a high kill count combined with First Blood’s darker tone may have alienated more casual viewers.
1 Al Pacino Would Not Have Been As Physically Imposing As Stallone
The extremely cut, muscular frame and strength with which John Rambo is now synonymous can be completely attributed to Sylvester Stallone, as this description is not included in David Morrell's 1972 novel. The actor’s discipline and dedication in preparing his body for roles like John Rambo and Rocky Balboa earned him a reputation as one of 1980s cinema’s fittest action stars. However, Stallone scaled back his training for First Blood following his intense regime for Rocky III. It was not until the Rambo sequels that the character really started to become the physically imposing force for which he is now known.
In stark contrast, many of Al Pacino’s characters are on the less bulky side, having to rely on their intensity and commanding presence to dominate the room. Rambo as a character with a smaller frame is difficult to imagine now, but Pacino’s build was actually closer to David Morrell’s original character. The First Blood novel describes Rambo as a "skinny, scruffy, bearded kid with long hair." This description is more similar to Al Pacino’s Serpico character than Sylvester Stallone's Rambo. Although a perfect fit for First Blood, Pacino’s build would have been unlikely to spawn such an iconic 1980s action series like the one Sylvester Stallone ultimately spearheaded.
Sources: Rambo DVD commentary, Digital Spy