Sylvester Stallone has been in Hollywood for a long time. He has done many movies that have helped him to rise to fame. The actor shares an uncanny connection with Rocky, the underdog boxer character he created four decades ago. Rocky served as Stallone’s inspiration for one of Hollywood’s most popular movie series. His titular character resulted in adding five more films to the franchise.
Although Stallone has played the iconic John Rambo in his lengthy acting career, Rocky was his creation and continues to have a special place in his existence. With the success of the films, the struggles the 76-year-old star had while making it was real. Rocky V’s underperformance made it difficult for the franchise to survive, and Stallone was on the verge of losing his $1.2 Billion franchise.
Sylvester Stallone faced humiliation to save his Rocky franchise
The Rocky franchise, with five movies, made Sylvester Stallone a household name. Stallone was determined to add another movie to the franchise named Rocky Balboa. It was going to release sixteen years after the fifth part. The fifth movie Rocky V’s underperformance led studios to doubt the success of the franchise. However, the actor was firm with the making of Rocky Balboa.
While speaking to Variety, the 76-year-old revealed, “I went to the studios. And Alex Yemenidjian at the time was running MGM. He told me that no one wanted to make it, absolutely no one.” Nevertheless, Stallone was keen about producing a sixth Rocky film too, at least partially, salvage Rocky V. But he also recognized the reasons why so few people were ready to gamble on it.
He said, “The core audience had grown up and was gone. I said it’s not about boxing — it’s about grief and loss.” After facing humiliation from many, Stallone eventually succeeded in persuading studios to produce the movie after outlining its plot.
Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky franchise has led to his multimillion-dollar fortune
Stallone launched the lucrative series with a 1976 original film that he conceived, wrote, and starred in. Rocky gained 10 Oscar nominations, including best actor and original screenplay for Filmmaker, and won for best picture, Director, and film editing. It also became a surprise box office success and critical darling.
He has accumulated a multimillion-dollar wealth over the years through the eight-film Rocky series, which also includes the spinoffs Creed and Creed II. Rocky V falling in the flop category affected the Tulsa King actors career for fifteen years. After the 2006 release of Rocky Balboa, which he wrote, directed, and starred in, Stallone got back in the good graces of Hollywood.
Source: Variety
