John G. Avildsen’s 1976 knockout film,Rockywas a certified hit when it was released. Nearly 50 years later, the film would go on to spawn one of the most recognizable film universes — which is still expanding as a franchiseproducer confirmed development onCreed 4. However, it seems like Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis Creed isn’t the only one looking to get back in theRockyfranchisearena, asSylvester Stallone is teasing a Rocky Balboa origin story.
Stallone recently opened up with a fewdetails about aRockyprequel show, claiming to have “a few pages” written about the teenage years of Rocky Balboa, as he meets his love interest in Talia Shire’s Adrian. While Stallone’s appearance on theInspire Mepodcast saw the actor compare his proposed show’s vision and Disney’sLady and the Tramp, a Rocky prequel sounds more like arewrite of the already long-established canon.
Sylvester Stallone’s Tease Makes The Rocky Prequel Sound Weirdly Like Rocky 1
RockyRewrites Mean Everything Can Change
Rockywas notable for how it told the story of a broke Philadelphia boxing loanshark preparing for his first heavyweight championship fight against Carl Weathers' Apollo Creed.A signature part of that story was the dynamic between Rocky and Adrian— a shy part-time pet shop worker who happens to be the sister of Balboa’s best friend, Burt Young’s Paulie. After an awkward date, the two fall in love, and their relationship endures across the franchise, up to Adrian’s off-screen death in 2006’sRocky Balboa. However, Stallone’s supposed rewrites of the formation of their relationship can significantly change this.
Sylvester Stallone’s Experience Making Rocky Is Becoming A Movie
A new biopic about Sylvester Stallone and the making of Rocky is now entering development with a prominent Oscar-winning director attached.
Instead, Stallone’sRockyprequel would cut to a time when Rocky, 17, first meets Adrian, 15 — doing away with their fateful encounter from the first film and reintroducing the relationship through the eyes of two teenagers. Stallone also referenced Paulie moving to a new neighborhood, and referred to a young Rocky as a “bad boy.” All of these changes seem tooverhaul the franchise foundation already built by the first filmby reintroducing character dynamics that can directly jab away at what audiences know about the franchise. Significantly altering character arcs and relationships is risky for an already still-expanding franchise.
Does Rocky Really Need An Origin Story?
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Sylvester Stallone doesn’t make a compelling enough case to warrant a Rocky Balboa origin story — especially since it sounds like it will heavily focus on the humble beginnings of Rocky and Adrian’s romance. This wasalready thoroughly explored nearly 50 years ago in the plot ofRocky.A Rocky Balboa origin story would be a massively missed shot, especially as the franchise continues to tell the already-compelling story of Adonis Creed.
a Rocky Balboa prequel rewriting established character arcs already built inRocky, would disqualify the legacy of a franchise that still has some fight left in it.
2006’sRocky Balboaalready seemed like it pushed Rocky’s character farther than it needed to go, featuring Balboa’s final in-ring bout in his late 50s against Mason Dixon. With 1985’sRocky IVfeaturing Balboa’s final knockout win,it became clear it was time to pass the torchto a new fighter, and Adonis Creed has made strides on this front under the tutelage of Balboa. WithCreed 4now in development, a Rocky Balboa prequel rewriting established character arcs already built inRocky, would disqualify the legacy of a franchise that still has some fight left in it.
Rocky
Cast
Rocky tells the story of Rocky Balboa, an underdog boxer from Philadelphia who gets an unexpected shot at the world heavyweight title. The film explores Rocky’s personal and professional struggles, his romance with Adrian Pennino, and his journey toward self-respect and determination.
