Posted on 10/17/2005 9:06:08 PM PDT by Nascardude
Cue "Eye of the Tiger"--the Italian Stallion is coming out of retirement for more one shot.
ADVERTISEMENT
Sylvester Stallone has signed on to reprise his role as the boxing champ for a sixth installment in the once mighty franchise.
The film, simply titled Rocky Balboa, was announced Monday by Columbia Pictures, Revolution Studios and original distributor MGM, which will team up to produce what a press release describes as a return to the style and grit of the 1976 franchise-launching original.
The story will pick up with the fictional prize fighter retired and a widower (no Adrian!), who, after resisting offers to return to the ring, reluctantly agrees to take on reigning world heavyweight champion Mason "The Line" Dixon.
"Rocky Balboa is about everybody who feels they want to participate in the race of life, rather than be a bystander," the 59-year-old Stallone said in a statement. "You're never too old to climb a mountain, if that's your desire."
Or relive the glory days.
The first Rocky introduced everyone's favorite underdog, a blue-collar, journeyman puncher who goes a full 15 rounds with flamboyant champ Apollo Creed. Although Rocky eventually loses a decision, the film scored a knockout. With a budget of just $1 million, Rocky became one of the top-grossing films of the '70s, pulling in $117 million domestically and $220 million in worldwide ticket sales. It also established "Yo, Adrian!" as a national catchphrase, made Stallone a household name, scored nine Oscar nominations (Best Actor and Best Screenplay for Stallone, among them) and won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
While subsequent sequels descended into increasingly cartoonish formula, they too threw plenty of weight around at the box office.
Rocky II (Rocky takes title from Creed in rematch) tallied $85 million domestically in 1979, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com; 1982's Rocky III (Rocky loses title to Mr. T, then regains it in rematch) slugged its way to $125 million domestically; and 1985's Rocky IV (Rocky goes to Russia, battles steroid-crazed Commie boxer Dolph Lundgren), grossed $128 million.
Rocky V (1990), however, didn't fare as well. That film, which saw Stallone's alter ego come out of retirement and engage former protege Tommy Gunn (real-life boxer Tommy Morrison), grossed a meager $40 million domestically as audiences apparently grew tired with the chicken-chasing tomato can.
Stallone, who wrote all five Rocky movies and directed the second, third and fourth films, has been working on the script for the sixth go-round for some time now. He said he felt the time was right to slip on the gloves one last time given the currents going on in his own life, especially as an aging action star.
Stallone's last significant big-screen role came in 2003's Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over; his most high-profile gig of late was hosting NBC's low-rated reality series The Contender, which traded on his Rocky fame.
"I am drawing on a lot of my feelings that are in synch with many people's feelings about facing the last chapter of their lives and how they want it to be written. Rocky goes through the skepticism of trying to go against the tide, to go against common sense," the actor tells Daily Variety.
On the production end, Rocky Balboa will be mostly a family affair.
Executive producing will be Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler, who oversaw the earlier Rocky pictures, while their sons, Charles and David Winkler and William Chartoff, will produce along with Kevin King.
With Talia Shire's Adrian down for the count, the only supporting cast members from previous entries making a return appearance will be Burt Young, who played her brother and Rocky pal, Paulie. Composer Bill Conti, who wrote Rocky's famous anthem, "Gonna Fly Now," is also on board.
Producers are reportedly talking with former heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver to take on the part of Dixon.
Rocky isn't the only muscle-bound hero Stallone is taking out of mothballs. He's also breaking out the bandana for a fourth turn as Rambo. Stallone will also write that screenplay.
Rocky Balboa begins shooting in Philadelphia and Los Angeles in December, after which Stallone is slated to segue into production on Rambo IV.
I can't remember either, not that it matters. I'm terrible when it comes to Roman numerals. If it wasn't for the Super Bowl, I'd have no idea how to read them at all. I guess I'm a victim of public education or just plain laziness. Or maybe a little of both.
Roman numerals suck. I hate watching old TV shows and trying to figure out when they were first broadcasted based on the MMCCXXii at the end of the credits.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.