They were two of the most popular action stars of the 1980s, but have only recently teamed up for the likes of The Expendables and new release Escape Plan. This week, Sylvester Stallone has revealed he once had a ‘violent hatred’ for Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the feeling was mutual. But Stallone explains the rivalry actually encouraged them to push themselves further.

“Have you ever had that?” Stallone asked US host David Letterman. “A competition where you have an arch enemy that really brings out the best in you? As Arnold would say, it really pushed you to accelerate.”  

When quizzed what exactly drove that hatred, Stallone stated “that he was on the planet basically, and that we were in the same solar system. After a while I started to like this competition, this one-up-manship. He would get a bigger gun, I’d shoot more people, he’d shoot more people. Then he went into science-fiction, leaving me behind.”

The pair share top billing on Escape Plan, which is released today. They’ll also be teaming up again for the third Expendables movie, where the producers have also managed to recruit other iconic action stars such as Harrison Ford, Wesley Snipes, Mel Gibson and Antonio Banderas. Stallone will also co-star with Robert de Niro in a new boxing drama Grudge Match, drawing on nostalgia for their respective roles in Rocky and Raging Bull.

Stallone made headlines earlier this week when it was revealed anyone looking to get his signature at New York Comic-Con last weekend had to pay almost €300 for the privilege.

(Image: Wikimedia Commons)