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- Stone replays lines and labels Sliver’s writing
- Where the script came from and past collaborations
- On-screen plot and the key players
- Baldwin’s recollection of strained set relations
- Stone’s career after Sliver and her later acclaim
- Public fallout and hints of reconciliation
- Why the exchange matters now
Sharon Stone has returned to a 1990s role and didn’t hold back. In a recent Variety interview she revisited lines from her 1993 thriller Sliver and dismissed much of the film’s script as clumsy. Her comments come after co-star Billy Baldwin publicly criticized their on-set relationship and said he would “never” work with her again.
Stone replays lines and labels Sliver’s writing
Stone took part in a clip where she read famous quotes from her filmography and tried to place them. When a risqué line surfaced, she first guessed the 1998 movie Sphere. She then recognized it belonged to Sliver and laughed at her own memory lapse.
She said she forbade anyone from even mentioning the movie for years and called the dialog “terrible,” suggesting it felt written by someone who wasn’t fully engaged with the material.
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Sharon Stone lashes out at Sliver movie days after Billy Baldwin’s scathing attack
Where the script came from and past collaborations
Sliver was adapted from Ira Levin’s novel. The screenplay was penned by Joe Eszterhas, who also wrote Basic Instinct. Stone has worked with Eszterhas before, and that earlier collaboration played a part in her rise. Sliver, however, failed to impress critics upon release.
- Source material: Ira Levin novel.
- Screenwriter: Joe Eszterhas, known for provocative scripts.
- Critical response: largely negative reviews for Sliver.
On-screen plot and the key players
In Sliver, Stone’s character is a book editor who moves into a high-end Manhattan building. She becomes involved with a mysterious tenant played by Billy Baldwin. The story mixes romance with surveillance and suspense. The pairing of Stone and Baldwin generated publicity, but not universal praise.
Baldwin’s recollection of strained set relations
Baldwin spoke about the production on the Lisa Guerrero Unleashed podcast. He said the early days on set were fine, but tension grew quickly. According to him, Stone avoided saying hello or goodbye to him after the first weeks. Baldwin said the situation made him uncomfortable enough to request producers remove a kissing scene.
- Initial cordial interactions turned chilly.
- He asked producers to cut the final kiss.
- He called out public remarks he says Stone made about his acting.
Specific claims Baldwin made
Baldwin’s interview included a few vivid allegations. He described:
- Stone criticizing his performance on a TV appearance the week of the film’s debut.
- An anecdote about a makeshift “shrine” with candles and pictures in her trailer, as he recounted it.
- An on-set mishap in which he says he stepped on her foot during a scene, and she walked on crutches afterward.
Stone’s career after Sliver and her later acclaim
Although Sliver did not win over critics, Stone’s career rebounded sharply. Two years later she starred in Martin Scorsese’s Casino. That role earned her an Academy Award nomination and restored her critical reputation. The contrast between the flop and her later success is often noted in retrospectives.
Public fallout and hints of reconciliation
Baldwin has been blunt about his feelings and said he would “never” collaborate with Stone again. Yet he also expressed a softer side in the same interview, saying he would like to bury the hatchet. He mentioned wanting to offer a handshake or a hug, signaling some openness to reconciliation despite strong public remarks.
Why the exchange matters now
The resurfacing of these claims and Stone’s candid dismissal of Sliver’s dialogue reopened conversations about on-set dynamics and the lasting impact of a troubled production. Both actors remain part of film history for different reasons: the controversy and the performances that followed.
