Producers Neal H. Moritz and Toby Jaffe say a payment dispute stopped Sylvester Stallone from returning to the Cliffhanger reboot. In April 2023 they met Stallone on Zoom, shared a script, and introduced him to director Ric Roman Waugh. Stallone liked the story, but his team told the producers that his fee must be escrowed before he could sign.
When Rocket Science Industries, the film’s financier, refused to lock in a guaranteed payment, Stallone walked away. The producers argue that the financing company’s refusal to guarantee the fee forced the star to decline the project.
Fee Guarantees and the Financing Gap
According to the lawsuit, Rocket Science failed to secure the escrow for Stallone’s salary. The producers claim that this breach of good faith caused a cascade of delays. Without a guaranteed fee, the studio could not lock the actor’s schedule, and the director withdrew.
Moritz and Jaffe note that Stallone wanted to shoot the movie in the fall of 2023, before filming his TV series Tulsa King. The financing shortfall meant the production could not meet that timeline.
How the Production Team Reacted
After Stallone left, the team scrambled to keep the project alive. They hired a new director, Jaume Collet-Serra, and added Lily James as the female lead. Pierce Brosnan stepped into the role originally meant for Stallone. The producers also tried to bring Russell Crowe on board, but he later dropped out.
New Director and Cast Changes
Jean‑François Richet was attached to direct in early 2024, but he also left after the financing issues persisted. The producers say the loss of Stallone made it harder to attract top talent, leading to further delays.
Moritz and Jaffe say they deferred their own producer fees because the budget swelled after paying the new director and cast. They warn that deferring fees can result in producers never receiving the full amount they earned.
Legal Action and Future Release
The producers filed a lawsuit against Rocket Science Industries and Cliffhanger 2 Productions. They allege breach of contract, breach of implied contract, and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The court documents detail the unpaid fees and the alleged refusal to guarantee Stallone’s salary.
Despite the setbacks, the new Cliffhanger film is still slated for release on August 28, 2026. The script was written by Mark Bianculli and Melanie Toast, with a story by Ana Lily Amirpour.
Rocket Science has not responded to requests for comment.
Source: The Wrap
