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EXCLUSIVE: Frank Zane Confesses Possible Choice of Actor Who Can Portray Him in a Future Biopic

Published 03/11/2024, 6:56 AM EDT

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In the latest episode of the EssentiallySports Fancast, legendary bodybuilder Frank Zane dropped a bombshell about his ideal actor for his potential biopic. He chose none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger’s rival from the 80s, Sylvester Stallone, though their rivalry ended in the 90s, and they have since become friends.

Moving back to the host Vishal Kolar, who skillfully extracted this nugget during a rapid-fire round, posing the crucial question, which actor do you think would be the most suitable for playing you in a biopic?

Zane’s response was both unexpected and intriguing during their EssentiallySports exclusive interview. The three-time Mr. Olympia winner initially threw Clint Eastwood’s name into the ring, prompting Kolar to express doubts about Eastwood matching Zane’s unparalleled aesthetics. “Clint was in shape back in the day, but I feel like he’s never going to be able to come close to your aesthetics,” Kolar agreed.

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The plot thickened as Zane introduced another Hollywood heavyweight into the mix – none other than Sylvester Stallone, the iconic John Rambo himself. Zane admitted, “Maybe Sylvester Stallone, yeah. I don’t know; I haven’t really thought about that very much.” The prospect of Stallone embodying Zane on the big screen seemed to tickle the bodybuilder’s fancy.

However, Zane maintained a level of nonchalance about the entire affair, stating, “I don’t think they’re about to make a movie about me. Nobody’s approaching me for that, so I’m not overly concerned about it.” He went on to reminisce about his laser focus on bodybuilding throughout his career, revealing that a biopic wasn’t high on his priority list.

The candid revelation adds excitement to Zane’s storied career, leaving fans and Hollywood enthusiasts pondering the possibility of a biopic led by Sylvester Stallone capturing the essence of the bodybuilding legend. However, this wasn’t the only revelation he made. While speaking to the host, Frank Zane also shared his thoughts on Schwarzenegger’s physique during the 1980 Mr. Olympia show.

Arnie was not in his top-notch shape in 1980 says Frank Zane

During the EssentiallySports interview, Zane, the legend who outshone Arnold Schwarzenegger at Mr. Olympia, spilled the tea on Arnie’s 1980 win. Surprisingly, Arnie made a sneaky comeback, catching everyone off guard, including Zane. When asked if Schwarzenegger “deserved to win,” Zane kept it real, saying “He wasn’t in his best shape, I’d seen him better than that.”

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Additionally, “You might say both of us weren’t at our very, very best…” Zane admitted. Despite the shocker, the 81-year-old didn’t throw shade at Arnie, and they even stayed buddies. But others haven’t been as levelheaded. Mike Mentzer retired from bodybuilding in protest of the result and even claimed that the only people who saw Schwarzenegger as the winner were Arnie’s friends and the judges.

Do you agree with Zane’s opinion about Sly portraying him and his honesty about Schwarzenegger’s physique during 1980 Mr. Olympia? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by:

Arpita Shrivastava

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Arpita Shrivastava is a bodybuilding writer at EssentiallySports who specializes in tracking the lifestyles of bodybuilders. A master’s degree holder in Mass Communication, Arpita is a frequent contributor to coverage about her idols Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler. She likes going behind the scenes to understand the nitty-gritty of building a shredded physique.
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Edited by:

Aakash Nair