Stallone back in ring for Rocky 6

[Cactus 3:16]

From BBCNews.com

Sylvester Stallone is to climb back into the ring for a sixth Rocky film.

The new movie will come 30 years after Stallone, now 59, shot to fame in the original and 15 years after the most recent instalment in the boxing series.

He will write and direct the movie as well as playing Rocky Balboa. Real-life champion Antonio Tarver is in talks to be the opponent in Rocky's final bout.

"We'll try to capture the essence of the first couple of films," Stallone told industry newspaper Variety.

Rocky became an iconic film figure in the 70s and 80s as Stallone portrayed the hero overcoming challenges in the ring and his personal life.

Comeback

The first film won three Oscars in 1977, including best picture and best director - but many fans felt the series went gradually downhill after that.

The new movie will show Rocky as an ageing, lonely has-been in Philadelphia who is reluctant to come out of retirement.

"There's a computer fight between the reigning world champion and Balboa, and Balboa wins," Stallone told Variety.

"The champion's management says 'let's do this for real, for charity'.

"Rocky says 'no' but decides to be true to himself even though he's going to be berated by everyone. Just to compete, not to win."

'Last chapter'

Stallone added that aspects of Rocky's life often mirrored his own.

"I am drawing on a lot of my feelings that are in synch with many people's feelings about facing the last chapter of their lives and how they want it to be written," he said.

"Rocky goes through the scepticism of trying to go against the tide, to go against common sense."

Like Rocky, Stallone has been out of the spotlight for some time, appearing in a string of poorly-received action films in the years since the last Rocky film came out.

Hollywood 'factory'

He recently produced a reality TV show featuring would-be boxers vying for a $1m prize.

Stallone told Variety Hollywood was now a more "strict business" than when he started.

"It's not a dream factory now, it's a real factory. In a good way," he said.

There are also reports that Stallone will star in a new Rambo film.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Mwahahahahahaha Hollywood sucks.

[King Ellis]

As long as it's better then batsman's.....

Edited October 17, 2005 by King Ellis

[zero]

This has been confirmed for quite some time. In fact, Stallone even released the first couple pages of the script.

Adrian's dead

It couldn't possibly be any worse than Rocky V, could it?

[Enter Blue Guy]

Sly is 59?!? Holy shit, he looks like he's in his 40's at most!

Anyways, this sounds kinda corny, I personally liked the idea of Rocky's son going up against Apollo Creed's son. I mean, that's drama. That would've sold the movie for me. Not something involving a video game bout that leads to a charity boxing match. I'll probably end up seeing it anyways.

A new Rambo sounds a little stupid. Probably fun to watch, but stupid anyways. Besides, there is only one aging action star that has any right to make one more film and that is the man (and I mean THE man) played by Bruce Willis... John fucking McClane. Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker!

Edited October 17, 2005 by Enter Blue Guy

[apsham]

If the movie is good, I'll watch it. If Sly wants to keep making movies he can, there's no need for him to "give up" he's a good actor, and there's a large Rocky following.

[Enter Blue Guy]

Sly's been in some great movies, like Demolition Man and the extremely underrated Cop Land, but Rocky 6 and another Rambo movie? Really? Especially a Rocky movie with that plot.. Oh well, at least they should be good popcorn flicks.

Edited October 17, 2005 by Enter Blue Guy

[Gene Kiniski]

Sly's been in some great movies, like Demolition Man and the extremely underrated Cop Land, but Rocky 6 and another Rambo movie? Really? Especially a Rocky movie with that plot.. Oh well, at least they should be good popcorn flicks.

[GoGo Yubari]

I actually like the idea exept for the "computer fight" thing. What the fuck does that even mean? "OMG Rocky beat the champ in a computer game, he should totally face him in a real match!"

[MDK]

SCREW YOU ALL. I've been watching the Rocky series on sky movies and they all RAWK. Seriously, Rocky V wasn't half as bad as everyone makes out. Even the bastardised version of Eye of the Tiger wasn't that bad.

Anyway, in order of greatness it goes Rocky > Rocky IV > Rocky II > Rocky III > Rocky V

[Godfatha]

This has been confirmed for quite some time. In fact, Stallone even released the first couple pages of the script.

Adrian's dead

It couldn't possibly be any worse than Rocky V, could it?

[gunnar hendershow]

I'll see it, since it's Rocky. But I won't be expecting much.

[apsham]

Also, EBG: Rocky Jr. can't fight Apollo Creed you silly goose, he's dead!

He said Apollo Creed's son.

[Godfatha]

I didn't know they had a son.

If anything he should fight Drago's son.