Surviving the Fight: Sylvester Stallone's near-death experience on the set of Rocky IV
Sylvester Stallone, the legendary actor behind the iconic character Rocky Balboa, recently revealed the fascinating story of how his initial vision for the character underwent a significant transformation, leading to the creation of one of the most successful film franchises in history. In a new Netflix documentary titled «Sly,» Stallone candidly shared the journey of how he turned a dark and aggressive Rocky into the beloved character audiences adore today.
Initially, Stallone's vision for Rocky was influenced by the gritty world of Martin Scorsese's crime drama «Mean Streets.» In the original script, Rocky was portrayed as a ruthless and «thuggish» character. However, everything changed when Stallone sought feedback from a close friend who had read the script.
Upon reading the early version of Rocky's story, Stallone's friend couldn't hide her disapproval.
She emphatically stated, «I hate Rocky. I hate him. He's cruel.
He hits people. He beats them up.» This heartfelt critique struck a chord with Stallone and prompted him to reassess his character's direction.
Determined to make Rocky a more relatable and sympathetic figure, Stallone sought his friend's guidance. He proposed, «What if you stop short of it? Like, maybe he almost did.
