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Sylvester Stallone stands as a colossal figure. His contributions to the film industry are unmatched, ranging from creating theRockyfranchise to playing the legendary Rocky Balboa. Yet, beneath the façade of success, one regret remains that relentlessly haunted the acclaimed actor—killing Carl Weathers’ beloved character, Apollo Creed, inRocky IV(1985).
Apollo Creed has to be among the most enduring characters in the wildly popularRockyfilm series. The boxer serves as the primary antagonist of the first twoRockyflicks and also made appearances in the subsequent installments before his character faced his end inRocky IV.However, it appeared that after a long time, Stallone was not happy with how the character’s story ended.
TheRockyfranchise, which debuted in 1976, pitted Weathers’ Apollo Creed against Stallone’s Rocky Balboa. Before meeting his demise at the hands of Ivan Drago’s Dolph Lundgren in the fourth installment, the character was highly enduring and quickly became a fan favorite. Stallone, however, suggested that things might be better than they appeared.
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The Reason Sylvester Stallone Removed Carl Weathers FromRocky IV
Rocky IV, widely regarded as the most adrenaline-pumping installment in the franchise, tells the story of Cold War rivalry and personal redemption. While thecinematic climax between Rocky Balboa and Ivan Dragois memorable, it is the fateful fight between Apollo Creed and Drago that continues to hauntSylvester Stallone. The loss of Creed had a significant impact on both Rocky’s character development and the hearts of fans all over the world.
Even so, Stallone was not entirely satisfied with how he concluded Apollo’s story, even though he wrote all sixRockymovies. Weathers’ character was slain by Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) inRocky IVduring a boxing match.
Rocky Balboa,the sixth installment, was originally supposed tofeature Weathers’ characteras well. However, it did not work out because Weathers allegedly demanded a large sum of money and was humiliated by Stallone.In an interview withAin’t It Cool News,the latter disclosed:
“Actually, Mr. T and Ivan Drago are in a quick montage before the main event in Rocky Balboa. It’s only for a second or two, but I appreciate their agreeing to participate. Apollo Creed is not in Rocky Balboa because he wanted many thousands of dollars for a two second piece of he and Rocky boxing. Unfortunately, we couldn’t afford it. Whatever happened to loyalty? Apollo Greed?”
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The character, brilliantly brought to life by the late actor, embodied strength, respect, and a never-say-die attitude. His infectious spirit touched audiences, creating a lasting impression on their collective psyche.
Was Sylvester Stallone Unhappy With How Apollo Creed’s Story Ended?
It is indisputable that theRamboactor placed a great deal of significance on theCarl Weatherscharacter. Sylvester Stallone has expressed regret over the years about the way he wrote Creed’s character and how it could have been better had he chosen a different course.
According to Stallone in the documentaryThe Making of Rocky vs. Drago, if the conclusion had been rewritten, Apollo Creed could have been shown in a different light:
“It was foolish. I thought I needed that kind of springboard to propel the drama on this really great velocity moving forward. Him in a wheelchair, he would’ve assumed the role of Mickey. And now, his physicality has been diminished, we would’ve seen a different side of Apollo. He could’ve opened up all these other things that we didn’t even know about. He would’ve been kind of a father figure, brother, mentor.”
Even after whatever went wrong with Weathers, it appears that Stallone still appreciated the contributions that the late actor made to the series. In a 2016 interview withDeadline, he stated:
“I was so blessed the day I met Carl, who is not just a fantastic actor, but a world class athlete who did things that normal actors and human beings can’t do. The fact that this is a movie called Creed, and it’s 40 years after Rocky, well it shows the impact that Carl Weathers had with Apollo Creed.
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Though the actor’s death means he will not be able to return to the franchise, Weathers’ legacy speaks volumes.
With a $300 million global box office haul,Rocky IVbecame the highest-grossing movie in theRockyfranchise and the third-highest-grossing domestic film of 1985. Many view the movie as a pop culture icon from the 1980s. A director’s cut titledRocky IV: Rocky vs. Dragowas released in 2021 and garnered favorable reviews from reviewers.
You can watch allRockyfilms on Prime Video.
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3310
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
