Reacher Breakout Star Can Assist Sylvester Stallone in Ending His Recent Action Movie Struggles

Sylvester Stallone is gearing up for his upcoming action film titled Alarum, which is poised to revitalize an otherwise disappointing streak of action movies — especially with a standout performance from one of the breakout stars of Reacher. While many of Stallone’s major action franchises have concluded in recent years, he has successfully transitioned to television with his role in Tulsa King. However, the year 2024 hasn’t been kind to Stallone’s cinematic ventures, as evidenced by Armor, which shockingly received a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite this, fans can look forward to more straight-to-video (STV) projects in 2025, including Never Too Old to Die and the intriguing spy action thriller Alarum.

Contrasting sharply with the subpar and humorless Armor, the trailer for Alarum showcases Stallone’s most promising role in years. In this film, he takes on a supporting role as a CIA assassin dispatched to eliminate two rogue spies who have defected from the agency. The film stars Scott Eastwood as the male lead, and the trailer teases action-packed sequences where Stallone and Eastwood are seen taking down legions of adversaries with AA-12 shotguns, reminiscent of the explosive action featured in The Expendables series – particularly noted for Terry Crews’ character.

Exciting Collaboration in Wings: Stallone and Willa Fitzgerald

A Diverse Cast Elevates Alarum Above Typical STV Action Films

Sylvester Stallone as Chester holding an AA12 in Alarum

In recent years, a notable trend dubbed the “geezer teaser”genre has emerged, featuring veteran actors like Stallone and Nicolas Cage, who typically film their scenes over just a couple of days for low-budget projects that promote them as the film’s stars—despite them often just appearing in cameo roles. Although Armor followed this formula as well, Alarum appears to be a significant upgrade over Stallone’s previous output. Alongside Scott Eastwood, Alarum boasts a talented cast that also includes Mike Colter (from Plane) and Willa Fitzgerald, known for her performance in Reacher.

Watch the trailer here

While Eastwood and Fitzgerald are the primary leads, the trailer suggests a buddy cop dynamic between the two — albeit with a marital twist. Additionally, the film appears to be produced with sufficient resources, showcasing a variety of action sequences that underscore each actor’s talent and involvement. Although it may not redefine the action genre, it is refreshing to witness a new Stallone project where the creative team seems genuinely enthusiastic about the material.

Can Alarum Revive Stallone’s Stagnant Action Career?

The Expendables 4 Concludes the Franchise on a Sour Note

Sylvester Stallone looking fierce in Armor (2024) with a Rotten Tomatoes splat — Custom image by Ana Nieves

Throughout his career, Stallone has experienced cycles of success and failure, with some box office triumphs followed by a series of underperformers. Currently, he is facing a challenging phase, marked by a string of underwhelming films including Escape Plan: The Extractors and Rambo: Last Blood. The 2023 release of The Expendables 4 was a critical and commercial flop, receiving overwhelmingly negative reviews. Combined with the disastrous 0% rating of Armor, there is significant pressure on Alarum to remind audiences of Stallone’s enduring appeal as an action star.

Sylvester Stallone’s Action Movies Since 2019	Rotten Tomatoes Rating
Escape Plan: The Extractors (2019)	N/A
Rambo: Last Blood (2019)	26%
The Suicide Squad (2021)	90%
Samaritan (2022)	38%
The Expendables 4 (2023)	14%
Armor (2024)	0%

Stallone’s last significant action role was in 2021, voicing King Shark in The Suicide Squad. Following his exit from notable franchises like Cliffhanger 2 and Creed, alongside the abrupt end of The Expendables series after its fourth installment flopped, he is in dire need of a hit. Although Alarum has modest expectations to meet, fans of Stallone deserve an engaging experience after a long string of disappointments.

Willa Fitzgerald’s Breakout Reacher Role Adds Excitement to Alarum

Fitzgerald’s Career Momentum Post-Reacher

Reacher not only boosted Alan Ritchson’s career but also introduced audiences to Willa Fitzgerald, who significantly impressed as Roscoe. Her character emerged as a strong, relatable presence with exceptional chemistry alongside Ritchson. While Roscoe may not return for a second season, Fitzgerald has carefully chosen diverse and compelling projects after her time on the show. Recently, she received accolades for her role in the 2024 thriller Strange Darling and delivered a chilling performance as a young Madeline Usher in Netflix’s The Fall of the House of Usher.

The trailer for Alarum hints at a brisk, thrilling spy narrative filled with action, complemented by a budding romantic tension between Scott Eastwood and Willa Fitzgerald. Although at first glance, it may resemble countless low-budget action films destined for digital release, Fitzgerald likely recognized something unique in Alarum‘s script that persuaded her to join the cast.

Furthermore, the engaging performances of Fitzgerald and her co-star Mike Colter could be integral in ensuring that Alarum distinguishes itself from typical STV offerings. While Stallone previously demonstrated a reliable track record in the action genre, this has not been the case in recent years. However, Alarum is shaping up to be a promising venture, and it presents an exciting opportunity for Willa Fitzgerald to showcase her ability in action sequences.

Source: Deadline | Rotten Tomatoes

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