The #1 Sylvester Stallone Fan Site in the World!
On March 4, 2004, Richard Johnson of the New York Post’s Page Six reported that “Sylvester Stallone may be stepping back into the ring. The mush-mouthed movie star — who is busy writing “Rocky 6” — may play himself in the upcoming biopic about former Great White Hope Tommy Morrison, who appeared in “Rocky V” and tested positive for HIV in 1996.”
Thanks to Tarek for the tip! – Craig Zablo
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Empire magazine has created their list of the ten most under-rated actors in Hollywood history. Sly came in at #9. While I wouldn’t agree with everyone on the list and could probably come up with a few others, I do agree that Sly is under-rated. The full list is posted below and you can read the entire article HERE. – Craig
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Mark Burnett, creator of the reality television show ‘Survivor’ joined Sylvester Stallone for a press conference at the LA Boxing Club in Los Angeles take questions about their new reality television show ‘The Contender’ on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004.
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Ernest “Jazzman” Resendes sent in the above item which appears in the February 23, 2004 issue of People.
Thanks, Jazz! – Craig Zablo
George Foreman, the two-time heavyweight champion and 1968 Olympic gold medalist is serious about a return to the boxing ring. In an article posted in the Houston Chronicle on February 12th, the 55-year-old Foreman, who hasn’t fought in seven years is quoted as saying, “”I’m looking to do one good boxing match, and it’s going to be a big one, too.”
Foreman isn’t interested in a fighting someone his age. He wants to fight an up-and-comer because, “The contenders are always there because they recognize it as a big payday.”
On Tuesday, Foreman talked with Sylvester Stallone, who told Foreman he was going to do another Rocky movie. “He was crazy about the idea of (me fighting again),” Foreman said. “He’s going to come in and visit.”
For the full story click HERE.
Thanks to Francis Welch from Houston for the tip! – Craig Zablo
Joe Eszterhas was, at one time, the highest paid screenwriter in Hollywood. He was also the first screenwriter to make the 100 Most Powerful People in Hollywood list.
Eszterhas’ first movie was F.I.S.T. which starred Sly Stallone. Before the movie was released Eszterhas and Sly had a few very public squabbles, although they did ultimately patch things up.
Here’s how the New York Post described it:
But when he was starting out, he and Stallone clashed after Robert De Niro wavered on playing the role of the Jimmy Hoffa-like character in “F.I.S.T.” Stallone played the part.
Stallone claimed he was writing the script, not Eszterhas, and he fought him and the director, Norman Jewison, over Eszterhas’s plot, which called for the union leader to be fatally shot.
“The public will not accept me dying,” he told Jewison.
“We’re not making Rocky,” the director replied. “Without your dying, there is no ending to the movie.”
“I’m a star,” Stallone countered.
“You’re an actor,” Jewison replied.
They compromised on shooting the scene as written – but only once.
Stallone later told Eszterhas how much he liked his work on “Jagged Edge,” and said that since “I owe you one,” he wanted to hire him for $500,000 for a quick rewrite. Stallone explained that he was directing “Staying Alive,” a sequel to “Saturday Night Fever,” and was halfway through the shooting but was having disagreements with John Travolta about the script.
Eszterhas agreed to meet with the two men in Stallone’s trailer. Travolta wanted to stress the “vulnerability” of his character, Tony Manero, but Stallone preferred to the put the stress on his being “cool.”
Eszterhas said he couldn’t help them.
“Sure you can,” Stallone said and offered to put him up in a hotel suite.
“Sly, you f – – – – d me once on ‘F.I.S.T.’ ” Eszterhas recalled saying. “What do you want to f – – – me again for, now that we’re friends?”
Travolta began to laugh, and so did Stallone, and Eszterhas left them to solve the problem
of Tony Manero’s personality on their own.
For the full article click HERE.
To order Hollywood Animal by Joe Eszterhas [and help support the SZ] click HERE.
– Craig Zablo
R. Kelly May Score New ‘Rocky’ Stage Musical
Robert Simonson of Playbill On-Line writes that the producers of a stage version of the Sylvester Stallone film “Rocky” are in talks with singer/songwriter R. Kelly about writing the score for the show. Variety also reported the news about Kelly.
Thomas Meehan, the three-time Tony-winning for Annie, The Producers and Hairspray, is already on board to write the book. The spokesman added that Kelly was in talks to join the creative team.
R. Kelly (whose real name is Robert Kelly) has written songs for Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Luther Vandross and others. His 1996 single “I Believe I Can Fly,” won three Grammy Awards.
Rocky spawned four sequels and would probably work well on stage. Two songs from the “Rocky” films-“Gonna Fly Now,” an instumental by Bill Conti, and “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor – became No. 1 hits.
For the full report click [HERE].
– Craig Zablo
The New York Post’s Cindy Adams’ December 8, 2003 column, says that “Rocky VI” is being held up because of producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff.
Everything else is in place. MGM likes Sly’s script and would finance the movie. Sly is willing to forgo his usual multimillion dollar salary and instead work for a percentage of the profits. The only sticking point is that Winkler and Chartoff are playing hardball for up front money.
I hope that this is just a rumor but you can read the entire piece and decide for yourself.
On December 3, 2002, Sly made a special appearance at Universal Studio’s Japan for their Hollywood Christmas Spectacular.