When Sylvester Stallone embarked on the journey of making Rocky, he faced numerous challenges and had much to prove. Not only did he need to convince producers that he was the right fit for the lead role, but he also had to earn the respect of his co-stars. Carl Weathers, a seasoned actor, initially had reservations about Stallone’s acting abilities when they first met.
While many find it hard to imagine someone other than Carl Weathers as Apollo Creed, the studio initially had different plans for the character. Surprisingly, Weathers shared that he wasn’t even the studio’s preferred choice to portray Apollo Creed in the iconic film, Rocky.
Sylvester Stallone Gave Carl Weathers A Reality Check
Back then, Carl Weathers was an aspiring actor, striving to establish his career. When his agents presented him with the script for Rocky, they informed him that the producers weren’t particularly keen on meeting him, making it a challenging situation for the rising talent.
Eventually, Carl Weathers found himself reading the script alongside Sylvester Stallone himself, little knowing that Stallone was the future star of Rocky. At that time, both actors were relatively unknown, and the encounter turned out to be a pivotal moment in their careers, leading to a memorable collaboration.
“I was introduced to him [Sylvester Stallone], the writer,” Weathers revealed. “He comes into the room, out of some vestibule somewhere, and he sits down. They introduce, ‘Well, this is the writer of the screenplay.’ So I’m reading with him.”
After the silent reaction during the rehearsal, Weathers assumed he had made a negative impression and believed he lost the role. In an untimely manner, he held Stallone responsible for his own performance, not realizing the potential partnership that would soon lead to iconic on-screen chemistry.
“I’m really nervous because I think I blew the interview and blew the audition. So I chirp out, ‘You know, if you get me a real actor I could do a lot better,'” Weathers recalled. “And Stallone looks up at me like, ‘This idiot, who’s he? Who does he think he is?'”
Weathers, reflecting on his outburst, believes that it might have surprisingly played a role in helping him secure the part.
Carl Weathers Wasn’t Impressed By Sylvester Stallone’s Creed Spinoff
Upon the release of Creed, where Sylvester Stallone reprised his role, Weathers had his own perspective on the series. Despite not being featured in the film, he still felt a sense of connection to Michael B. Jordan’s sports drama.
“With this movie, I am close to it without being close to it at all,” Weathers told The Hollywood Reporter. “I don’t think I would call it a sequel. In my mind, it is its own entity. I think it stands on its own.” Yet, Weathers didn’t view it merely as a sequel to the Rocky films, in which he once played an integral part.
Rocky is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Source: Cheatsheet
