As Sylvester Stallone begins working on The Expendables 4 and Rambo: Last Blood is poised for its wide theatrical release, the filmmaker is also planning a return to the franchise that made him a global superstar: Rocky.
Speaking with Variety, Stallone noted he has been working on a new film starring the Philadelphia Southpaw Rocky Balboa, and longtime Rocky producer Irwin Winkler confirmed the project and that negotiations were already underway for Stallone to star in and write the proposed film.
"There’s a good chance that Rocky may ride again," Stallone said before introducing the premise for the proposed film. "Rocky meets a young, angry person who got stuck in this country when he comes to see his sister. He takes him into his life, and unbelievable adventures begin, and they wind up south of the border. It’s very, very timely."
Stallone had indicated he was done with the role after appearing in last year's Creed II but may be up for a return. This echoes previous hints that he would like to reprise his role as John Rambo beyond September's Last Blood after originally appearing to retire from that iconic role as well. Additionally, Stallone is planning to develop a Rocky prequel television series, hoping for interest from streaming services, despite misgivings about taking the franchise to television by Winkler.
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"There was some conflict there," Stallone admitted. "[Winkler] felt in his mind that Rocky was primarily a feature film, and he didn’t see it as being translated for cable, so there was a big bone of contention."