Rocky Spin Off Set to Begin Filming in January 2015

Written by Scott Orris

Rocky is back...  Well sort of.  In an effort to revisit his past roles on film (a fifth Rambo is also in the works), Stallone will star alongside Michael B. Jordan, in the role of Apollo Creed’s grandson in Creed (Coogler, 2016).  In this story Rocky will serve as a mentor to the young upstart boxer Adonis Creed.  Set to begin filming in January of 2015 with a 2016 release, the film will be the first time since Rocky Balboa (Stallone, 2006) that Stallone will reprise his iconic role (Mercader).  The Rocky films with their “David and Goliath” kind of plots, have inspired us to triumph over adversity for almost 4 decades.  When Creed comes out in 2016 it will actually be on Rocky’s 40th anniversary.  But I think what really made the Rocky films great was their relatability.  Everyone in their life must overcome a series of obstacles in order to achieve anything.  But the Rocky films tell us to dream big, that an impoverished struggling boxer can actually become heavyweight champion. 

Rocky goes the distance with Apollo Creed in the first Rocky film.

The battle of East v. West, Rocky faces the Soviet Goliath Draggo in Rocky IV

There are many inspirational moments all throughout the series of films.  Such moments as going the distance with Apollo, beating Goliath-like opponents such as “Clubber Lang” played by Mr. T, and “Draggo” portrayed by Dolph Lundgren, but probably the most iconic moment is the famous scene with Rocky running up the steps of Philadelphia Museum of Art.  The top of the stairs was commemorated with an actual bronze statue of the "Italian Stallion" himself in Rocky III (Stallone, 1982) and was later donated to the city by Stallone.  

The statue’s location has changed over the years (currently it is at the bottom of the stairs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art), but the enthusiasm of the fans reenacting the famous scene certainly has not.  There are countless fans who make the famous run and visit the statue, making the steps now known as the “Rocky Steps” one of Philadelphia’s largest tourist attractions.  In a ceremony for the statue’s new location in 2006 Stallone spoke about the character’s impact in popular culture in his dedication speech, “The statue being here, is not about me.  It’s about you.  Because believe me inside of every one of you, lives a real Rocky” (Stallone Rocky Statue Dedication Ceremony).

Works Cited:

"Creed." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2014

Mercader, Virnelli. "'Rocky' Spinoff to Star Sylvester Stallone, Film to Focus on Apollo Creed's Grandson." Christian Post. The Christian Post, 14 Nov. 2014. Web. 20 Nov. 2014.

"Rocky." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2014

"Rocky III." IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2014

"Rocky IV." IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2014

"Rocky Balboa." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2014.

Stallone Rocky Dedication Statue Phily Part 3 of 3. Youtube. Youtube, 10 Sept. 2006. Web. 20 Nov. 2014.