Category: Rocky VI

Sly in Training for “ROCKY VI”

Craig / / 2005, Rocky VI, Training

On September 16, 2005, Contactmusic.com posted the following:

Actor SYLVESTER STALLONE will be a tragic widower in the forthcoming film ROCKY VI following the death of his screen wife ADRIAN.

The 59-year-old is currently in training to begin shooting the sixth part of the iconic boxing series – and the movie will open with ROCKY BALBOA grieving by his late wife’s graveside.

In the film Rocky makes a boxing comeback and returns to the ring one last time.

While this isn’t “new” news, it is nice to see that it’s still newsworthy! – Craig

Sly Gets Maxim Exposure!

Craig / / 2004, Rambo IV, Rocky VI

Ernest Jazzman Resendes sent in the following scan and quotes from the November 2004 issue of Maxim:

Has working on (The Contender) gotten you fired up to make Rocky 6? 
Stallone: I’m always fired up to make another Rocky. It dawned on me a long time ago that I have this character who’s almost autobiographical, so his story can keep going. The character can go places where the actor is in his life. The movies almost become documentaries.

So where is Rocky now?
Stallone: Society says to people, “Step aside; age gracefully.” I’ve never thought there was anything graceful about aging. So I used what George Foreman did with his comeback fight a few years ago as a model. Everyone thought he was a joke, but he followed his own drum.

Since you’re still in fighting shape, will Rambo be back, too?
Stallone: There has been movement in that area, yes. Of course, it won’t be what you think – not the same Rambo with the headband. In keeping with some sort of believability, he would be passing the torch to a younger generation of high-tech combatants. We’re working on an interesting premise where Rambo is brought back from living on a ranch somewhere, and because of his skills in jungle warfare and survival, he’s asked to lead a young group in a search-and-rescue mission. They can’t believe this decrepit guy is a war hero, but when their technology fails, they see where Rambo excels.

Thanks to Jazz for the scan and quotes! Thanks also to Peter Panagiotou for the heads-up!- Craig

Sylvester Stallone Back in the Ring

Craig / / 2004, Rocky VI, The Contender, TV

From the USA Weekend for October 29-31, 2004

Sylvester Stallone goes back to a boxing ring in January as host and co-producer of The Contender, an NBC “reality” entry. The man who became a star as Rocky Balboa offers potential Rockys a shot at fame and fortune, but he promises his audience more than a fight.

“The fights will just be about five minutes,” says Stallone, 58. Co-Producer Mark Burnett says Stallone is right for the job because “he loves boxing and what it means to the fans.” He’s been cold at the box office, though, so it’s unlikely a planned Rocky VI will happen now.

– Craig Zablo

SZoners Send in News

Craig / / 2004, Celebs, Rambo IV, Rocky VI

Mo writes: Long time visitor blah blah blah…thought you might like to know that DVD Review (Issue 67- July 2004) mentions a bit about Sly readying Rocky 6 and Rambo 4 for 2005. Apparently he wants John McTiernan and F Gary Gary to direct them.

[We can only hope! – Craig]

Rob Hoskins from Lexington, Kentucky e-mails: I attended last nights Tyson vs. Williams fight in Louisville. Mr. T was also in attendance and I spoke with him briefly about “Rocky VI”. He confirmed that as far as he knew the film would be made and that he quite possibly may have a role in it. He said that he most likely will not be fighting in the film, but that he had been contacted about an appearance. I was honored to have spoken face to face with my favorite Rocky opponent, Clubber Lang!

[That is not only great news, but so cool that you got to meet Mr. T. – Craig]

Thanks to both SZoners for passing along the news! – Craig Zablo

Stallone Files Suit Over ‘Rocky’ Projects

Craig / / 2004, Rocky VI, The Contender

Stallone Files Suit Over ‘Rocky’ Projects
Fri May 14,10:59 PM ET
By GREG RISLING, Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES – Actor Sylvester Stallone has sued Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. and a production company, claiming they stymied his efforts to make a sequel and Broadway musical based on the “Rocky” film franchise.

The lawsuit filed Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court seeks unspecified damages against the studio and the production company. It also seeks an order allowing Stallone to proceed with a “Rocky VI” film.

“He looks at litigation as the very of very last resorts,” said Stallone‘s attorney, Gerald Margolis. “It means he’s extremely sad, disappointed and put out by all of this.”

MGM spokeswoman Janet Janjigian called the lawsuit “sad, desperate, pathetic and without merit.” She declined further comment.

The lawsuit also names as a defendant the former firm of Chartoff-Winkler Productions. A call seeking comment from the company’s successor, Chartoff Productions, was not immediately returned.

Stallone alleges the defendants initially wanted to be involved in the development of a “Rocky” musical co-written by the actor. But MGM proposed keeping an unacceptable share of the potential profits. After Stallone balked, the studio allegedly said it would develop musicals based on the “Rocky” movies.

Stallone claims that he reached a tentative deal with MGM to make the “Rocky VI” movie, but the project was nixed after a producer allegedly demanded that his son direct the film.

Stallone also accused both defendants of pulling out of the musical and movie after learning he intended to co-produce and star in a boxing reality TV show called “The Contender.”

The series is scheduled to air in January, featuring amateur boxers as they advance from training camp through challenges in the ring. The winner will receive $1 million and a chance to become a professional prize fighter.

The suit claimed MGM retaliated by creating its own reality show called “The Real Rocky” with a similar plot. MGM, however, has said its show had been in the works for about a year.

– Craig

“Rocky VI”: A Fighting Chance?

Craig / / 2004, Rocky VI

The May 14, 2004 issue of Entertainment Weekly contains an article by Liane Bonin which profiles movies caught in development hell. The movies profiled include The Simpsons, A Confederacy of Dunces, Watchmen, Foxy Brown and Rocky VI. The article is accompanied with a really cool Slycharacature by John Cuneo. Here’s what is said about Rocky VI:

PROJECT Rocky VI: The Italian Stallion returns to the ring.

HISTORY In 1999, Sylvester Stallone finished the script. [Rocky gets back in the ring for charity.] Recently he did a major revise, but MGM reportedly vetoed it. Stallone is said to be planning to sue the studio to regain the rights. [His reps would not comment.]

STATUS That’s all news to MGM. “It’s a project that has been discussed, but I don’t know if it’s going to happen or not,” says a studio spokesperson. “And we have no formal knowledge of a lawsuit.”

PROGNOSIS Whether or not he gets back on his feet, do fans really want to see a 57-year-old actor in shiny shorts?

And the answer to the last question is, “Yes, yes, we do!”

– Craig

Sly May Play Himself!

Craig / / 2004, Celebs, Rocky VI

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

The “Holdup” on “Rocky VI”

Craig / / 2003, Celebs, Rocky VI

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.

  • Craig Zablo

Sly Guests on AMC’s “Shootout”

Craig / / 2003, Cop Land, Rocky, Rocky VI, TV

Sylvester Stallone Guest Stars on AMC’s ‘Sunday Morning ShootOut’ on December 7 at 11 AM

for Sun. (Dec. 7) –(BUSINESS WIRE)–

AMC‘s weekly half-hour series, “Sunday Morning ShootOut,” hosted by Peter Guber and Peter Bart, brings the smarts and spin of Sunday morning political shows to the world of entertainment.

THIS WEEK’S GUEST: Actor, writer and director Sylvester Stallone. Since achieving worldwide fame with Rocky, which won an Oscar for Best Picture in 1976, Stallone has acted and co-written such successful films as First Blood, Rambo: First Blood Part II, and Rambo III. His acting credits include Get Carter, Driven, Demolition Man and Copland, which garnered him international critical and audience acclaim. Most recently, Stallone has completed filming Avenging Angelo, co-starring Madeline Stowe.

DISCUSSION TOPICS: 1) The producers of Rocky offered you $150,000 to cast Ryan O’Neal in the title role. What made you turn it down? 2) Why did you agree to take a major pay cut for the film Copland? 3) Lost
Souls Seeking Redemption, Rocky VI — is this a parallel to your own life and life experiences? 4) Your upcoming Rampart Scandal delves into the murders of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls. What made you choose this piece and how did it come about?

WHEN: The episode will air on Sunday, December 7 at 11 am ET/PT on the AMC cable network. The episode can also be viewed at http://movies.yahoo.com, beginning at 12 Noon (PT).

BACKGROUND: “Sunday Morning ShootOut” is a new, half-hour weekly series on AMC hosted by entertainment industry veterans, Peter Guber and Peter Bart. Guber is the chairman of Mandalay Pictures, former CEO of Sony Pictures, the producer of dozens of Hollywood‘s most successful movies including Midnight Express, Batman, Rainman, Basic Instinct. Bart is editor-in-chief of Variety, and former Hollywood reporter for The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. In his career as an executive at Paramount Pictures and as president of Lorimar, Bart played a major role creating classics like The Godfather, Rosemary’s Baby and The Postman Always Rings Twice.

Like other Sunday morning debate shows, the sparks fly here as prominent producers, directors, writers and stars join the hosts to debate all sides of the week’s biggest stories in the world of movies and entertainment. The experts provide informed and spirited perspectives on the winners and losers at the box-office, the rising and falling fortunes of the stars and studios themselves and the emerging trends that are forever reshaping the business of entertainment.

The pic above comes from an ad in Entertainment Weekly and the text from Business Wire. – Craig Zablo

Rocky VI: I Ain’t Heard No Bell

Craig / / 2003, Celebs, Rocky VI

On Thursday, October 16, 2003, MovieHole received a tip from ‘Going Greek’ that “Rocky VI” may not ne as dead as some have reported since “Spy Kids 3” proved Sly’s still got appeal. “The Rocky VI”…screenplay’s done, and it’s quite good – very reminiscent of the first film. In other words, lots of character detail… The opponent of the movie is a guy called Excel, who’s just your typical new-age smart arse athlete. The audience is going to be begging [that] Rocky gives this guy a thumping. Talia Shire is ready to come back too [as Adrian]”.

MovieHole also reports that Sly’s Biggie and Tupac flick is “…shaping up superbly.”

A tip of the hat to Ernie “The Erndog” McHone, Ernest “Jazzman” Resendes and Dark Horizons. – Craig Zablo