Sylvester Stallone stands as a colossal figure. His contributions to the film industry are unmatched, ranging from creating the Rocky franchise to playing the legendary Rocky Balboa. Yet, beneath the façade of success, one regret remains that relentlessly haunted the acclaimed actor—killing Carl Weathers’ beloved character, Apollo Creed, in Rocky IV (1985).
Apollo Creed has to be among the most enduring characters in the wildly popular Rocky film series. The boxer serves as the primary antagonist of the first two Rocky flicks and also made appearances in the subsequent installments before his character faced his end in Rocky IV. However, it appeared that after a long time, Stallone was not happy with how the character’s story ended.
The Rocky franchise, which debuted in 1976, pitted Weathers’ Apollo Creed against Stallone’s Rocky Balboa. Before meeting his demise at the hands of Ivan Drago’s Dolph Lundgren in the fourth installment, the character was highly enduring and quickly became a fan favorite. Stallone, however, suggested that things might be better than they appeared.
The Reason Sylvester Stallone Removed Carl Weathers From Rocky IV
Rocky IV, widely regarded as the most adrenaline-pumping installment in the franchise, tells the story of Cold War rivalry and personal redemption. While the cinematic climax between Rocky Balboa and Ivan Drago is memorable, it is the fateful fight between Apollo Creed and Drago that continues to haunt Sylvester Stallone. The loss of Creed had a significant impact on both Rocky’s character development and the hearts of fans all over the world.
Even so, Stallone was not entirely satisfied with how he concluded Apollo’s story, even though he wrote all six Rocky movies. Weathers’ character was slain by Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) in Rocky IV during a boxing match.
Rocky Balboa, the sixth installment, was originally supposed to feature Weathers’ character as well. However, it did not work out because Weathers allegedly demanded a large sum of money and was humiliated by Stallone. In an interview with Ain’t It Cool News, the latter disclosed:
“Actually, Mr. T and Ivan Drago are in a quick montage before the main event in Rocky Balboa. It’s only for a second or two, but I appreciate their agreeing to participate. Apollo Creed is not in Rocky Balboa because he wanted many thousands of dollars for a two second piece of he and Rocky boxing. Unfortunately, we couldn’t afford it. Whatever happened to loyalty? Apollo Greed?”
The character, brilliantly brought to life by the late actor, embodied strength, respect, and a never-say-die attitude. His infectious spirit touched audiences, creating a lasting impression on their collective psyche.
Was Sylvester Stallone Unhappy With How Apollo Creed’s Story Ended?
It is indisputable that the Rambo actor placed a great deal of significance on the Carl Weathers character. Sylvester Stallone has expressed regret over the years about the way he wrote Creed’s character and how it could have been better had he chosen a different course.
According to Stallone in the documentary The Making of Rocky vs. Drago, if the conclusion had been rewritten, Apollo Creed could have been shown in a different light:
“It was foolish. I thought I needed that kind of springboard to propel the drama on this really great velocity moving forward. Him in a wheelchair, he would’ve assumed the role of Mickey. And now, his physicality has been diminished, we would’ve seen a different side of Apollo. He could’ve opened up all these other things that we didn’t even know about. He would’ve been kind of a father figure, brother, mentor.”
Even after whatever went wrong with Weathers, it appears that Stallone still appreciated the contributions that the late actor made to the series. In a 2016 interview with Deadline, he stated:
“I was so blessed the day I met Carl, who is not just a fantastic actor, but a world class athlete who did things that normal actors and human beings can’t do. The fact that this is a movie called Creed, and it’s 40 years after Rocky, well it shows the impact that Carl Weathers had with Apollo Creed.
Though the actor’s death means he will not be able to return to the franchise, Weathers’ legacy speaks volumes.
With a $300 million global box office haul, Rocky IV became the highest-grossing movie in the Rocky franchise and the third-highest-grossing domestic film of 1985. Many view the movie as a pop culture icon from the 1980s. A director’s cut titled Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago was released in 2021 and garnered favorable reviews from reviewers.
You can watch all Rocky films on Prime Video.
