(Image courtesy of MGM)
Five years ago, Sylvester Stallone revisited "Rocky IV," which he wrote, directed and starred in, releasing a newly recut and retitled version, "Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago". The new edition removed material he was unhappy with and restored footage he believed should never have been cut. Now, Stallone has turned his attention to "Rocky V."
"Rocky V" received an even harsher response than "Rocky IV," drawing brutal reviews and grossing just $120 million worldwide. That marked a steep fall from "Rocky IV," which topped $300 million to become the franchise’s biggest box office hit at the time. The disappointing reception sent the "Rocky" series into hibernation until 2006’s "Rocky Balboa" brought the Italian Stallion roaring back.
During a new SiriusXM interview, Stallone revealed that he has been speaking with Amazon, which now controls the rights to the "Rocky" franchise, about creating a new cut. "This is news. I’ve been talking to Amazon," he said. "Please give me three weeks. I want to recut that movie." Stallone added that he is "100%" certain he can improve it, calling the film "a thorn in my soul." The biggest challenge, he explained, will be locating the deleted footage, though he believes the archive team can track it down.