New fan art imagines the perfect DC Universe casting for Sylvester Stallone in James Gunn’s rebooted superhero franchise. Stallone is one of the most acclaimed action stars of his generation, starring in the titular roles of the Rocky and Rambo franchises, and making memorable appearances in the likes of The Expendables, Cobra, and Escape Plan. He’s also branched out into comedies and dramas, with the recent Tulsa King being a brilliant addition to his repertoire, as well as dipping his toes into the superhero world as Stakar Ogord in Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.
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Sylvester Stallone’s prior connection to James Gunn from the Marvel Cinematic Universe could lead to him taking on a role in the rebooted DCU. Gunn regularly re-hires stars he’s had positive experiences with, and Gunn has always spoken highly of Stallone. The action star already voiced King Shark in Gunn’s 2021 The Suicide Squad movie, but new fan art shared on DeviantArt imagines him as Ted Grant’s Wildcat in the DCU, which would be an inspired casting choice. What makes this even better is that Wildcat’s DCU debut may have already been teased.
Why Sylvester Stallone Would Be Perfect For Ted Grant’s Wildcat in the DCU
Introduced back in 1942’s Sensation Comics #1, Ted Grant was a world-class heavyweight boxer who was framed for the murder of his mentor, “Socker” Smith, but escaped from prison after the true murderers, his managers Flint and Skinner, tried to have him killed. Several police officers were killed during this attempt on Grant’s life, which turned Grant into a fugitive, so he donned the Wildcat costume to clear his name. It’s later revealed that Grant has nine lives thanks to Zatara’s magical alterations, but his other skills come from his accomplishments as a boxer and his intense training.
This is where Sylvester Stallone comes in. While not a boxer in his own right, Stallone’s experience as struggling boxer Rocky Balboa, a role that he created and originated in the self-written 1976 movie, Rocky, makes him a perfect fit for Wildcat. “Sly” went on to star as Balboa in 1979’s Rocky II, 1982’s Rocky III, 1985’s Rocky IV, 1990’s Rocky V, 2006’s Rocky Balboa, 2015’s Creed, and 2018’s Creed II, so has an intimate knowledge of how to accurately portray a boxer, which would prove incredibly beneficial to the delivery of Ted Grant in the DCU.
Wildcat can clearly be seen on the expertly-crafted mural in the Hall of Justice in 2025’s Superman reboot, meaning he has already had a prominent place as a superhero in the world of the DCU. It would be fantastic to see Sylvester Stallone suit up as an experienced and hardened hero in the DCU, especially since it’s unclear whether he’ll return as King Shark – who was voiced by Diedrich Bader in Creature Commandos. As a world-class boxer who trained the likes of Batman, Black Canary, and Superman, there are many opportunities for Ted Grant’s Wildcat to appear in the DCU.
Do you want to see Sylvester Stallone suit up as Ted Grant’s Wildcat in the DCU? Let us know in the comments!
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