Rocky’s Fate: Stallone Spills on Creed’s Shocking Original Ending

Thescreescore – Sylvester Stallone has revealed a startling detail about the original plans for his character, Rocky Balboa, in the critically acclaimed film Creed. Speaking candidly about his illustrious career, Stallone disclosed that director Ryan Coogler initially envisioned a tragic end for the iconic boxer, a fate Stallone vehemently opposed.

Coogler’s initial script for Creed involved Rocky succumbing to Lou Gehrig’s disease, a storyline that Stallone felt would be too devastating for audiences. "I was never comfortable," Stallone explained, emphasizing his preference for a more ambiguous departure, suggesting Rocky "get on a train going somewhere, and you never see them again."

Stallone’s resistance ultimately led to a significant rewrite, allowing Rocky to mentor Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) without the looming shadow of death. This change, Stallone believes, was crucial to the film’s success, enabling him to deliver a powerful performance that focused on dramatic acting rather than physical combat.

The actor also touched upon his absence from Creed III, explaining that Rocky’s continued presence as a mentor would have felt repetitive, echoing the evolution of his relationship with Adrian in the original Rocky series. He felt the film needed to evolve beyond his character’s established role.

Creed garnered widespread acclaim for its fresh take on the Rocky universe, earning a 95% critical score and an 89% audience score. Had Rocky’s death remained in the script, the film’s reception and the trajectory of subsequent sequels might have been drastically different.

While Rocky’s survival opens the door for a potential return in Creed 4, Stallone’s comments suggest that he is hesitant to revisit the role, fearing it could become stale. However, fans can look forward to I Play Rocky, a behind-the-scenes account of the making of the original Rocky, featuring Anthony Ippolito as a young Sylvester Stallone, offering a nostalgic glimpse into the franchise’s origins, according to thescreescore.com.

Regardless of what the future holds, Creed stands as a testament to the enduring power of the Rocky legacy, a legacy that was almost irrevocably altered by a single, fateful decision.