Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa is undoubtedly one of the most iconic characters ever written. First introduced to the world in 1976 inRocky, the character has appeared in several sequels, video games, and even in theCreedfranchise with Michael B. Jordan. While his journey seemed to have come to an end inCreed 2, Stallone is not ready to hang those gloves and the actor has revealed that he is working on a pitch for aRockyprequel series.
Over the course ofthe sixRockyfilms, fans witnessed the boxer go up against several opponents. But, Stallone now wants to take fans on a journey back in time and offer insight into the character’s origins. “Imagine a time machine that will simply transport us back to the origins ofRocky,” his pitch reads, and fans seem to love the idea.
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In the caption, Stallone confesses to writing a treatment that he envisions launchingon a streaming service, with “ideally 10 episodes.” But, one season wouldn’t be enough for the actor to narrate the story. He wishes for it to be a longer series, so he can truly “get to the heart of the characters” in their younger years. This isn’t the first time that Stallone has spoken of the idea of aRockyprequel, but it is a first for him to share two pages of his writing with his more than 12 million Instagram followers.
His idea for the series includes showing Rocky’s struggles as a teenager in the ’60s and his “rather plain life” before he goes on to become a champion. Stallone wants fans of the franchise to understand how the teen had to face problems thatany person his agewould have to in the process of trying to find their place in the world. This would instantly make one of the most cherished characters in Hollywood even more relatable than he already is.
The first film in theRockyfranchise introduced the character as an underdog who gets the opportunity of a lifetime - a chance to fight the heavyweight champion of the world. The idea, Stallone has revealed previously, was inspiredby a memorable fightbetween boxer Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner. While Ali eventually defeated Wepner, the latter became popular for landing a blow that knocked Ali down early on in the match.
The fact that, at one point in the match, Wepner had the chance to win is what got Stallone to write the script forRockyin just three days. However, a prequel series would offer more insight into how the character becamethe boxing underdogthat fans fell in love with. It remains to be seen whether it will indeed come to fruition.
Creed IIIis scheduled to be released in theaters on July 10, 2025.
