Veteran action star Sylvester Stallone took to social media to share a clip and reflect on the intense preparation he put into making Rocky. Released in 1976, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the sports epic that became an iconic franchise.
Sylvester Stallone said this about his Rocky preparation
Sylvester Stallone recently posted an old clip on Instagram, showcasing the grueling training he underwent in preparation for Rocky. The video was accompanied by a caption. It read, “Before Rocky ever stepped into the ring on screen, there were hours like this. Repetition. Footwork. Timing. Getting hit and getting back up. I wrote the script in three and a half days, but the physical work took months. Nothing about it was accidental. If you want it to feel real, you have to live it.”
In the video, the Tulsa King actor is seen in the boxing ring, practising and choreographing the fight with his co-star Carl Weathers. The actor demonstrates how he wants the scene to go and remarks that he needs to “fly into the ropes.” As he picks himself up, he jokes, “These ropes are like guitar wires.” Both actors then continue to practice the move again.
Stallone then sits in the corner and notes that his character should be taunted, saying ‘‘Why didn’t you take bookkeeping in high school?” He then moves to the other side of the ring, while the Predator actor punches him in the face. He then instructs Weathers to punch him from the left, followed by a right punch, and proceeds to fall to the ground.
In the next scene, The Expandable actor stands up and practices his left jabs on his co-star. The actor then asks Weathers to land more punches. The clip ends with both of them jokingly falling to the ground. Rocky premiered on November 20, 1976, in New York City. It later arrived in cinemas worldwide on December 3, 1976. Stallone wrote the script, and John G. Avildsen directed. The film receive incredible reception from both a critical and a commercial standpoint. It later spawned eight sequels over the next 30 years. It was followed by a spin-off movie trilogy, Creed, starring Michael B. Jordan.
