In Samaritan, thirteen-year-old Sam Cleary (Javon "Wanna" Walton) suspects that his mysterious and reclusive neighbour Mr. Smith (Sylvester Stallone) is actually a legend hiding in plain sight. Twenty years ago, Granite City’s super-powered vigilante, Samaritan, was reported dead after a fiery warehouse battle with his rival, Nemesis.
Most believe Samaritan perished in the fire, but some in the city, like Sam, have hope that he is still alive. With crime on the rise and the city on the brink of chaos, Sam makes it his mission to coax his neighbour out of hiding to save the city from ruin.
Earlier this month, a global press conference for the movie took place, and we were fortunate enough to be in attendance. Stallone took a number of questions from the press, and we asked what it is about Samaritan that makes it different to other superhero stories. He then went on to talk in detail about the approach they took with this story.
"This guy…this sort of superhero is much more pedestrian. You could be standing or riding next to him on an L or a bus and not even know you’re sitting next to a fella that can literally lift the bus up!" the legendary actor says in the video above. "There’s a simplicity to it and it’s a simmering boil that eventually erupts as opposed to triumphant music and special effects and thunder and guys hitting the ground with their fist and creating a seismic wave."
"You can expect a superhero that is very regular and does irregular things. That’s what it is. It’s like if Rocky was a superhero. There’s something about it that’s identifiable and street-like. It’s not set in a super fantastic universe. It's set among brick and conflict and identifiable situations. It’s in the neighbourhoods we live in and that’s what I liked about it."
Remember, Stallone is no stranger to superhero movies. He's starred in Judge Dredd, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and The Suicide Squad, but Samaritan marks a very different kind of character for the actor. This former hero has the weight of the world on his shoulders and is looking to do little more than blend in despite his city desperately needing him.
For comic book fans looking for a grounded story with a superhero lead, it's clear that Samaritan should fill that void. Plus, listening to Stallone talk, this definitely sounds like a passion project for him.
Samaritan premieres exclusively on Prime Video globally tomorrow, August 26.