Dolph Lundgren, a prominent figure in Hollywood’s action film scene, has suggested he might reprise his role as Ivan Drago, a character he first made famous in “Rocky IV,” while discussing his ongoing Dolph Lundgren career evolution. Before the premiere of the documentary Dolph: Unbreakable directed by Andrew Holmes at the Torino Film Festival, Lundgren shared insights about his iconic persona and revealed his openness to exploring new facets of Drago should the right script come along.
Lundgren expressed his interest in developing the character further and acknowledged the difficulty behind portraying such a hardened figure.
“I could still show another side of this guy. Another human side, although I showed a little bit of that in ‘Creed II,’”
he commented, underscoring his lasting connection to the role.
About the complexity of Drago and what drew him to the character, he stated,
“He’s interesting because he’s so hard on the surface. Drago was my first big movie character and he was very well suited to me: I was a big guy, a fighter. The less I did, the more powerful I seemed. I think I could do it again, if there was a project with a good script.”
— Dolph Lundgren, Actor
A New Perspective on Hollywood Action and Its Evolution
Lundgren, a native of Sweden, found stardom not only for his portrayal of Drago, but also for his roles in movies such as Universal Soldier and Masters of the Universe, during an era when physical prowess was foundational to action stardom. Reflecting on the differences between classic and current action films, he remarked,
“In the 1980s and 90s, when if you wanted to be a star, you had to look the part. You had to have real muscles, because they couldn’t create them in a computer. You had to work out, do your own stunts and look believable running, jumping and beating everybody up,”
— Dolph Lundgren, Actor
He continued, identifying a major turning point in the genre’s progression:
“There were only a few guys who could do that and still be decent actors, but everything changed when Tim Burton put Michael Keaton in a muscle suit. He took a dramatic actor, hired a few doubles and stunt guys to do all the fights, and that changed the action genre forever.”
— Dolph Lundgren, Actor
Lundgren admitted that the physical demands of action films fostered strong bonds among actors of his generation.
“If you’re a pro football player or if you go to war, it’s going to be painful – also if you’re trying to be an action star. No one said it was going to be easy, but it was harder than I thought. Then again, so is everything in life that’s worth anything,”
he shared, offering a glimpse into the sacrifices made behind the scenes. — Dolph Lundgren, Actor
Recalling the camaraderie and lasting influence of his era, he mentioned,
“Sly and Arnold used to be rivals, but people mellow with age. We’ve all been grateful that we’re still around. People will be watching these movies 20, 30 years from now and looking back at that era in a bit of an awe, because I don’t think actors want to go through that kind of discipline anymore. It’s not easy to build a physique like that; it’s a lot of work. I mean, you can’t beat Arnold as Conan [the Barbarian]. You can never beat that.”
— Dolph Lundgren, Actor
Personal Growth, Health Battles, and Life Lessons
While audiences have long associated Lundgren with stoic, enigmatic characters, he now values transparency and candidness, particularly regarding his health struggles. He believes,
“If you are being honest, people relate to you more. They have the same problems. If I talk about cancer, maybe they’ll get a second opinion or get some help.”
— Dolph Lundgren, Actor
Lundgren battled illness in 2020, exhibiting unwavering dedication to his craft by continuing film work during treatment. He described his medical challenges, stating,
“For a while, everything looked good. I had surgery and they removed some tumors from my left kidney. Then I went to London to shoot ‘Aquaman’ and the treatment wasn’t working. It was serious.”
— Dolph Lundgren, Actor
He recounted a pivotal moment with his doctor,
“I had a man-to-man with the doctor when my wife wasn’t there. We were engaged at that time. He said: ‘You have three years left.’ I drew up my will, started to plan my own funeral and realized I may not be around when this documentary is released. I wanted to leave something my kids and my fans could watch.”
— Dolph Lundgren, Actor
Following a reevaluation of his diagnosis, Lundgren is now doing well and carries the same disciplined work ethic.
“I like to work. It keeps me young and it keeps me alive,”
he affirmed. — Dolph Lundgren, Actor
Director Andrew Holmes noted Lundgren’s relentless commitment during challenging times, sharing,
“He wasn’t going to stop. There’s a tremendous amount of respect for the process when he’s saying: ‘I started this film. I want to make sure it gets finished.’”
— Andrew Holmes, Director
Holmes also commented on the impact Lundgren’s illness had on his contemporaries:
“Dolph’s cancer wasn’t public when we interviewed Van Damme. We told him in confidence and it completely sidelined him. They weren’t super close, but that’s how much these guys mean to each other. They lived in an era that’s completely gone and put their bodies through hell. You’re getting paid all this money, but if you don’t have a body to use in your last quarter of life, was it worth it?”
— Andrew Holmes, Director
Desire for Nuanced Roles and New Artistic Horizons
After decades immersed in physically demanding roles, Lundgren finds himself drawn to subtler acting opportunities as his Dolph Lundgren career evolution continues. He revealed,
“I would like to be a little more internal, more normal. I’m drawn to those scripts. I would love to do stuff like that and maybe I eventually will, because this whole cancer journey has made me a different person. It has made me quieter,”
— Dolph Lundgren, Actor
He touched on his relationship with Hollywood and his perceptions of his status, stating,
“I’ve always felt a bit insecure about my status in Hollywood as an actor – that I wasn’t good enough and didn’t act in award-winning pictures. But I think my main mission has been to entertain people and make them feel good.”
— Dolph Lundgren, Actor
Lundgren emphasized his gratitude for the broad audience his films have reached, explaining,
“A lot of movies I’ve made are obviously for the masses: for regular people, valet parkers and blue-collar workers. It’s a different type of recognition. Part of the payoff is when they say they love my movies or used to watch them with their dad who’s not around anymore. It’s quite emotional for me to hear that, you know.”
— Dolph Lundgren, Actor
Navigating Typecasting and Seeking Self-Expression
On arriving in Hollywood, Lundgren recognized the realities of the film industry and how his image shaped his early assignments. He explained,
“Hollywood is a business. You can’t make a movie just for the hell of it or to express yourself. Maybe in Sweden, if you’re Bergman. If a guy shows up, he’s good-looking, has muscles and can do action, you’re going to hire him for that. You don’t need him to be a good actor. That happened to me for a long time,”
— Dolph Lundgren, Actor
The limitations of being typecast affected him emotionally.
“It made me sad. I wanted to express myself, but I didn’t know how to do it. Maybe this doc is a part of that, you know? Maybe it’s a first step towards that.”
— Dolph Lundgren, Actor
Holmes observed Lundgren’s openness during filmmaking:
“People who are in the spotlight never assume they’re wrong. Dolph was very, very quick to admit when he’d made mistakes in his life. My producer Adam Scorgie would say: ‘Wow, he’s being really open. When is it gonna change?’ And it never really did, honestly.”
— Andrew Holmes, Director
He added perspective on Lundgren’s multifaceted life,
“He’s even more interesting outside of acting. He’s played some iconic roles, but do people know he had a master’s in chemical engineering? That he was Sweden’s national karate champion, that he dated Grace Jones and dropped out of MIT to live like a celebrity at Studio 54?”
— Andrew Holmes, Director
Holmes chose to avoid overused stories in the documentary, opting instead for new narratives:
“We don’t talk about the time when Dolph stopped Sly’s heart when he punched him in the chest [on ‘Rocky IV’], because that story has been told so many times. But we talk about how Sly saw himself in this young man: someone he could go to war with and rehearse for six months every single day. No one’s rehearsing for six months for a fight scene anymore.”
— Andrew Holmes, Director
The Future: Legacy, Directing, and Full Creative Control
“Dolph: Unbreakable,” currently a concise 78 minutes, may be expanded based on interest and distribution deals, according to Holmes. He expressed confidence in Lundgren’s continuing relevance, stating,
“A lot of these docs get made when there’s no more career left. But Dolph’s got a lot of work left in him, especially as a director.”
— Andrew Holmes, Director
Holmes concluded by highlighting Lundgren’s newfound agency:
“When he was younger, his career was about taking steps other people told him to take. Now, Dolph is fully in control of what he wants to do.”
— Andrew Holmes, Director
As Dolph Lundgren continues to embrace a more introspective approach toward his craft and future projects, his remarkable resilience and adaptability set an example within and beyond the action genre. With his experience spanning intense physical roles, academic achievements, and health challenges, Lundgren’s journey is one of reinvention and renewed purpose, offering inspiration to both fans and fellow actors.
