A new report has revealed details about the behind-the-scenes changes that led to Sylvester Stallone’s exit from the Cliffhanger reboot and Pierce Brosnan’s casting in his place. The change in casting is reportedly related to financial disputes and scheduling conflicts.
Report claims new lawsuit explains Sylvester Stallone’s departure from Cliffhanger reboot
A recently filed lawsuit has provided new clarity around Sylvester Stallone’s decision to step away from the upcoming Cliffhanger reboot. Stallone was announced in May 2023 as returning to the role he originally had in the 1993 action hit Cliffhanger. However, reports in October 2024 confirmed that he was no longer involved as filming moved forward.
According to the complaint filed by producer Neal Moritz, Stallone had agreed to star in the reboot on the condition that his fee be secured in escrow before filming began. The lawsuit alleges that the film’s financier, Rocket Science Industries, declined to provide that assurance. This prevented Stallone’s deal from being finalized. “But Rocket Science failed to secure Stallone’s commitment to do the Picture because it refused to guarantee Stallone’s fee,” the lawsuit states. (via Variety)
The filing claims that producers continued to promote the film internationally with Stallone as the lead, even though his deal had not been completed. When Stallone’s participation remained unresolved, original director Ric Roman Waugh exited the project. The production then underwent a series of creative changes. These changes included the hiring of Jean-François Richet, followed by Jaume Collet-Serra, who is now directing the film.
The lawsuit further details how casting and budget complications escalated after Stallone’s exit. Russell Crowe was briefly pursued as a replacement before Pierce Brosnan ultimately joined the project. Moritz also claims he and producing partner Toby Jaffe were later asked to defer their producer fees entirely due to financing shortfalls. The lawsuit read, “It is highly unusual for requests to be made to a producer of Moritz’s stature to defer the entirety of the producer’s fee.”
The lawsuit claims the companies failed to reach an agreement and that Rocket Science backed away from its deal with Moritz and Jaffe.