Sylvester Stallone reveals he will NOT return as Rocky in Creed III directed by Michael B Jordan… despite reprising role for first two parts
Sylvester Stallone has revealed that he will not return to his iconic Rocky Balboa role for the upcoming film Creed III.
The 74-year-old famously created the character for himself in the 1976 film Rocky which he not only starred in but also wrote.
And although he reprised the role for the first two Creed films his representative has told The Hollywood Reporter he is not involved in part three.
Stepping away: Sylvester Stallone has revealed that he will not return to his iconic Rocky Balboa role for the upcoming film Creed III; seen in 2019
However the representative has not given any indication as to Sly’s reasons for choosing not to take part in the new film.
There were six films in the original Rocky franchise released over a 40-year period and culminating in the surprise 2006 hit Rocky Balboa.
Rocky Balboa, which Sly wrote and directed himself, ended a major career slump for him that had begun in 1990 when Rocky V flopped.
In 2015 Ryan Coogler resuscitated the franchise again by directing Creed which is about Rocky training Michael B. Jordan’s character Adonis ‘Donnie’ Creed.
Nope: Although he reprised the role for the first two Creed films his representative has told The Hollywood Reporter he is not involved in part three directed by Michael B. Jordan (left)
Passing the torch: In 2015 Ryan Coogler resuscitated the franchise again by directing Creed which is about Rocky training Michael B. Jordan’s character Adonis ‘Donnie’ Creed
Donnie is the son of the late Apollo Creed who was Rocky’s rival in the original film series and was played by Carl Weathers.
Creed was a big success and so was its 2018 sequel Creed II – with Sly not only starring as Rocky but also writing all his own scenes for both films.
Steven Caple Jr. directed the second movie and it has emerged that Michael is making his directorial debut with the third.
Sly, who himself directed Rocky IV, is now gearing up to release his own recut version of that film and revealed this week that his work is done.
Throwback: The 74-year-old famously created the character for himself in the 1976 film Rocky which he not only starred in but also wrote; he is pictured with Talia Shire in the original movie
Throwback to ’76: Donnie is the son of the late Apollo Creed who was Rocky’s rival in the original film series and was played by Carl Weathers (left)
‘Last day of completing ROCKY 4 !!! Get Ready to RUMBLE!!!’ he gushed Tuesday in the caption of an Instagram video showing him in the editing room.
‘You can go back and see a movie that you’ve done 50 years ago and you: “God, I’d love to reedit that,”‘ he said in the video.
‘And every director feels that same way, so it’s not about making a movie, it’s about remaking,’ said the smoldering Hollywood heartthrob.
Through the years: Sly is pictured in the 1979 movie Rocky II which was the first installment of the franchise that he directed himself
Soldiering ahead: He returned to the director’s chair for Rocky III (pictured) which was released three years after its predecessor
As time goes by: Sly, who himself directed Rocky IV (pictured), is now gearing up to release his own recut version of that film and revealed this week that his work is done
‘Unfortunately, you run out of time, you run out of money, they basically throw you out of the room, so therefore you don’t get a chance – but on this one we finally got a chance so I’m feeling great about this!’
The project is going ahead with Michael at the helm and despite the lack of Sylvester’s involvement it will be out the day before Thanksgiving 2022.
During a Variety interview a couple of years ago Sly shared that a prequel series was being mulled and that he was percolating a movie in which he plays Rocky mentoring an illegal immigrant street fighter.
Ups and downs: Rocky Balboa, which Sly wrote and directed himself, ended a major career slump for him that had begun in 1990 when Rocky V (pictured) flopped
Back in the saddle: There were six films in the original Rocky franchise released over a 40-year period and culminating in the surprise 2006 hit Rocky Balboa (pictured)