Reflecting on Rocky: Sylvester Stallone's Career and Iconic Roles
Paramount+ is currently airing the third season of the popular show "Tulsa King," and the lead actor recently sat down with GQ to reflect on his career and some of his most iconic roles. Sylvester Stallone is best known for his portrayal of Rocky Balboa, a character he played in the original "Rocky" film in 1976 and continued through several sequels and spin-offs. Stallone did not appear in "Creed III," making "Creed II" his final on-screen appearance as Rocky, where he reunites with his son Robert Jr. and meets his grandson Logan for the first time.
Director Ryan Coogler initially wanted to end Rocky's journey with a death in "Creed," but Stallone resisted this idea, leading to script re-writes that allowed for a more nuanced portrayal of the character. Stallone embraced the challenge of portraying a more dramatic version of Rocky, focusing on his emotional journey rather than physical action scenes. Currently, Stallone is producing a project titled "I Play Rocky," which explores the making of the first "Rocky" film.
In the interview, Stallone expressed regret that three of his films – "Cobra," "Tango & Cash," and "Demolition Man" – did not become franchises despite their potential for multiple sequels. Stallone believed that these movies had the potential to spawn successful franchises with at least three films each.