Who's ready for another round with the Italian Stallion? He may be getting a little long-in-the-tooth
to square off in a boxing ring, but Sylvester Stallone has never stopped thinking about
Rocky Balboa.
The impact the Rocky series has had on pop culture cannot be understated. It's a true
underdog tale that transcends time and inspires viewers to get out there and take control
of their lives. The last installment in the saga, Rocky Balboa, was released back in 2006,
bringing the boxer's insatiable spirit to the big screen for a whole new generation
of viewers. That flick saw the geriatric boxer reunited with Apollo Creed's former trainer,
Duke, in a quixotic effort to build strength for one final bout. Despite the far-fetched
premise, the film actually worked thanks in large part to the enduring charisma of the
franchise's buff leading man. At 60 years old, many assumed this would be Stallone's
last bout in the series, but he's apparently still finding ways to keep his career-defining
role present in the public eye.
More recently, Stallone portrayed a retired, aging Rocky for both Creed films as a mentor
to Michael B. Jordan's Adonis Creed. Following the premiere of Creed 2, Stallone implied
he was stepping away from the role that made him a household name in a heartfelt Instagram
post though he might go back on his word.
“As I step back, cause my story has been told, there’s a whole new world that’s
gonna be opening up for the audience, for this generation.”
Even at 74 years of age, the acting legend has made it known that he isn't quite ready
to close the door on playing the iconic fighter. Whether or not another Rocky-centric story
will come to fruition remains up in the air, but the Rambo actor did share a piece of exciting
news for fans of the original films.
While a new Rocky movie would be the best possible news for fans of the series, a new
cut of a classic entry is pretty much the next best thing.
Sylvester Stallone inadvertently announced a Rocky 4 director's cut via Instagram on
June 29, 2020, after first mentioning it in a post dedicated to the release of Rambo:
Last Blood's extended cut. A commenter asked him if there was a chance for Rocky Balboa
to get a similar treatment, but Stallone said it wasn't in the works.
However, in quashing the potential for an extended cut of the final Rocky film, he also
spilled the beans on the recut he was working on to commemorate the fourth Rocky movie's
35th anniversary. Some fans might be nervous about any attempt to tamper with the cinematic
perfection that is Rocky 4, but in the words of Stallone, the cut so far looks "amazing."
We'll take the Stallion at his word.
Once that news slipped, there was no chance of Stallone jamming the toothpaste back in
the tube. In subsequent posts, the actor has continued to provide sneak peeks into his
editorial process, and insights into what we can expect from his new cut. One such glimpse
showed off some raw footage from Rocky 4 with the caption:
"This is new ... Almost done. Cut cut , snip, snip ... ROCKY 4 #Directors cut."
Another, uploaded a day later, included a fun outtake. That same post also encouraged
everyone to interact with both likes and comments, since, as Stallone put it:
"You are ALL part of this JOURNEY. So Let your voices be Heard."
It's unknown how different this version of Rocky 4 will be from the original. However,
Stallone did hint on Instagram that he intends to delete Paulie's robot from the movie, saying
in a comment, quote, "I don't like the robot anymore."
“Thanks, honey.”
“You’re welcome.”
“That’s a nice song.”
“It’s my favorite. You’re the greatest. See you sport.”
“See ya.”
Rocky 4 was released in 1985, and rapidly became the most financially successful film
in the long-lived franchise. Even if it weren't a meaningful anniversary for the film, 2020
still provides an interesting environment for a new look at an old classic.
1980s culture is having a moment, if you haven't noticed. Aside from open homages to the neon
decade like Netflix's hit supernatural thriller Stranger Things and its newly acquired Karate
Kid sequel, Cobra Kai, a slew of older films and franchises are now getting a second look.
Rocky never really left the public’s imagination, but the original films are more relevant than
ever thanks to the success of the Creed series, which revisits the legacy of Apollo Creed
a generation later, much in the same way Cobra Kai revisits the legacy of Johnny Lawrence.
It's been a long time since we first saw a chiseled Stallone square off against Dolph
Lundgren's Ivan Drago. It will be interesting to see what Stallone's new take adds to the
movie's mythology.
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