New 'Rocky' Sequel & Possible Prequel Series In Development With Stallone Expected To Return

In today’s age of bloated cinematic universes, storytelling homogeneity, and corporations forsaking finality for a whiff of financial longevity, it seems even classic American franchises aren’t safe from continuous expansion and reimagining. Less than a year after Sylvester Stallone very publically, very cordially said goodbye to the character of Rocky Balboa – a social media farewell that coincided more or less with “Creed II,” his eighth time playing the iconic boxer – it seems there are already plans in the works for him to return to the role.

In a recent interview with Variety, Stallone, who turned 73 earlier this month, disclosed that yet another installment in the ‘Rocky‘ franchise is being drawn up. But instead of “Creed III,” this new story sounds more like a “Rocky VII,” a movie that would see “the onetime boxing champ befriending a young street fighter living in the U.S. illegally.” The longtime producer of the “Rocky” films, Irwin Winkler, is also quoted as saying that they are negotiating to get Stallone to write and star in the production.

READ MORE: Sylvester Stallone Praises Michael B. Jordan & ‘Creed II’ As He Officially Declares The End Of Rocky Balboa

If you’re thinking that it’s high past time Hollywood move on from Rocky, there’s more: Stallone also told Variety there are “discussions” to throw a very modern twist in the franchise; namely, create a prequel series about the boxer for TV, “likely for a streaming platform.”

The narrative is eerily similar to Stallone’s other iconic franchise, that of “Rambo,” of which the upcoming fifth installment – titled ‘Last Blood‘ – is being billed as the final film in the 37-year-old franchise. The title would certainly make you think as much, as would the trailer’s “Logan”-esque tone, though who’s to say a “Young Rambo” isn’t inevitable?

What’s more, the report paints a portrait of a self-made movie career sadly devolving into corporate-controlled asset. What began as Stallone making a name for himself bringing one of cinema’s most iconic underdogs to the screen has permeated his life in that he’s now an underdog in his own story. That is to say, Stallone talked about how he blames his own “lack of business savvy” in the early years of his career to never resolutely pursuing an ownership stake in his own franchise of “Rocky.”

READ MORE: ‘Rambo V: Last Blood’ Trailer: The Legend Comes Home In A ‘Logan’ Style Finale

In fact, according to the article, he has zero ownership in the series.

“Every word, every syllable, every grammatical error was all my fault,” Stallone said. “It was shocking that it never came to be, but I was told, ‘Hey, you got paid, so what are you complaining about?’ I was furious.”

Some associated with the franchise have apparently expressed surprise at Stallone’s words, pointing to how he has made millions over the decades from “Rocky.” Still, his story as he’s telling it in 2019 feels like a cautionary tale for any young filmmaker or actor in the biz to be serious about owning their stories; if not, they may very well continue past the finales initially created for them.