Moviefone Editorial

Tag: sylvester stallone

  • ‘Rambo 5’ Just Started Filming, See Sylvester Stallone’s New Look

    ‘Rambo 5’ Just Started Filming, See Sylvester Stallone’s New Look

    Sylvester Stalone in "Rambo: First Blood"
    Orion Pictures

    He’s finally back! “Rambo 5” — or “Rambo V,” because it does look cooler that way — is now filming, with original star Sylvester Stallone back as John Rambo.

    Sly had said in 2016 that that he was retiring the character, who first appeared in “First Blood” (1982), then “Rambo: First Blood Part II” (1985), “Rambo III” (1988), and “Rambo” (2008).

    Later on, Stallone said he would return for a fifth “Rambo,” and he was even planning to direct at one point. Instead, Adrian Grunberg is said to be directing, with filming just getting started today.

    Aaaaand it looks like Rambo is going full cowboy.

    Here are Sly’s posts from earlier today to celebrate the start of “Rambo 5”:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BocDkqEBMBg/

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BocOcTUhGWJ/

    Is this a Western?

    The final scene of the fourth film showed Rambo back in the U.S., walking on a rural highway past a horse farm and a mailbox with “R. Rambo” on it.

    According to a Screen Daily report from back in May, the fifth film finds our Rambo…

    “living in a ranch in Arizona, deeply troubled and wrestling with PTSD as he picks up casual work wherever he can.

    When long-time family friend and estate manager Maria informs Rambo that her grand-daughter has gone missing after crossing into Mexico for a party, he sets off with her to find the youngster.

    What ensues is a violent descent into hell as Rambo uncovers a sex-trafficking ring. He teams up with a journalist whose half-sister has also been kidnapped and must deploy all his skills to save the girls and bring down a vicious crime lord.”

    Sylvester Stallone is 72-years-old now, but he’s been training his body hard for this “Rambo” return:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm3nEv-jhkv/

    Gotta respect that level of commitment.

    A few months ago, Sly previewed “Rambo V” would be coming in Fall 2019:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BifUttWjndO/

    Sly is in hardcore sequel mode lately, between “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” “Escape Plan 2: Hades,” and the upcoming “Rocky” spinoff sequel “Creed II.”

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  • ‘Creed II’ Releases Intense Second Trailer and Poster

    ‘Creed II’ Releases Intense Second Trailer and Poster

    Creed II poster crop
    MGM/Warner Bros.

    Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) prepares for the challenge of his life in “Creed II,” which just shared Trailer II.

    With guidance from Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), boxing phenom Adonis Creed prepares to fight Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu) — son of Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), who killed Adonis’ father Apollo Creed during a boxing match and was later defeated by Rocky.

    Rocky Balboa: “That kid was raised in hate. He’s dangerous.”

    Here’s the official synopsis for the “Creed” sequel:

    “Life has become a balancing act for Adonis Creed. Between personal obligations and training for his next big fight, he is up against the challenge of his life. Facing an opponent with ties to his family’s past only intensifies his impending battle in the ring. Rocky Balboa is there by his side through it all and, together, Rocky and Adonis will confront their shared legacy, question what’s worth fighting for, and discover that nothing’s more important than family. Creed II is about going back to basics to rediscover what made you a champion in the first place, and remembering that, no matter where you go, you can’t escape your history.”

    Here’s the second trailer:

    And here’s the full poster from Metro Goldwyn Mayer and Warner Bros., with Adonis letting out the kind of scream the trailer builds up to:

    Creed II poster
    MGM, Warner Bros.

    “Creed II” was directed by Steven Caple Jr., and co-stars Tessa Thompson, Wood Harris, Russell Hornsby, Andre Ward, and Phylicia Rashad. It hits theaters Wednesday, November 21st.

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  • 11 Things You Didn’t Know About ‘Demolition Man’

    11 Things You Didn’t Know About ‘Demolition Man’

    Even after 25 years, “Demolition Man” remains one of the best action movies/guilty pleasures from the ’90s.

    It’s got two musclebound action stars going toe-to-toe in a futuristic sci-fi world, with Sylvester Stallone playing John Spartan — a badass cop who gets frozen in cyro-prision after an attempt to bring in his prey, a kooky psycho criminal (Wesley Snipes), goes sideways. Soon, in a future that is very PG-rated (you get fined for cussing!), Spartan is thawed out to pursue Phoenix once again.

    It has LOTS of Taco Bell, Dan Cortese playing TV jingles on the piano, 90s Denis Leary, and the Three Seashells. What more could you ask for? To celebrate that anniversary, here are a few interesting facts you might not know about “Demolition Man.”

    1. Before Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes were cast, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal were offered the lead roles. Both turned them down because neither wanted to play the villain.

    2. NBA star Dennis Rodman dyed his hair similar to Simon Phoenix’s (Snipes) distinctive hairstyle in the movie, having been inspired by the future criminal’s look.

    3. For his part, Snipes hated his hairdo in the film and immediately shaved his head after filming wrapped.

    WB

    4. Hungarian writer István Nemere has accused the film of plagiarizing his novel “Fight of the Dead,” claiming that 75 percent of the plot is identical.

    5. Lori Petty was originally cast as the earnest and untested police officer Lenina Huxley, but the actor was fired two days into filming due to “creative differences.” Sandra Bullock was then brought in as her replacement.

    WB

    6. Sting and Grace Jones perform the title song, “Demolition Man.” The song was originally recorded in 1981 and was featured on a new EP in 1993 alongside the release of the film.

    7. Stallone originally wanted Jackie Chan to play Simon Phoenix. Chan turned it down, however, due to fears over how Chinese audiences would react to seeing him play a villain.

    Dimension

    8. Because (at the time) Taco Bell was less popular outside of the US, the European version of the film was re-dubbed to replace all Taco Bell references with Pizza Hut instead.

    9. “Demolition Man” jokingly refers to Arnold Schwarzenegger as having been elected President of the United States. However, Schwarzenegger became governor of California ten years after the movie was released, and some politicians have proposed an “Arnold Amendment” that would allow naturalized citizens like Schwarzenegger to run for President.

    10. Numerous scenes were trimmed or cut during post-production. This includes an entire subplot featuring John Spartan’s adult daughter, though she can still be briefly glimpsed during the sewer battle scene.

    11. In Kuwait, the movie was renamed “Rambo the Destroyer,” in the hope of banking off Stallone’s enduringly popular action hero.

  • First ‘Creed II’ Images Will Quench Your Michael B. Jordan Thirst

    First ‘Creed II’ Images Will Quench Your Michael B. Jordan Thirst

    Creed II
    MGM/Warner Bros.

    Adonis Creed is ready to get back in the ring.

    Two new images from “Creed II” have been released and both are a showcase for very buff star Michael B. Jordan.  It’s clear Adonis is in peak form as he trains with Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) for a major fight.

    Of course, this isn’t just any fight — his opponent is the son of Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), the Russian villain who dealt deadly blows to Apollo Creed in “Rocky IV.”

    Here’s the sequel’s official synopsis:

    Life has become a balancing act for Adonis Creed. Between personal obligations and training for his next big fight, he is up against the challenge of his life. Facing an opponent with ties to his family’s past only intensifies his impending battle in the ring. Rocky Balboa is there by his side through it all and, together, Rocky and Adonis will confront their shared legacy, question what’s worth fighting for, and discover that nothing’s more important than family. Creed II is about going back to basics to rediscover what made you a champion in the first place, and remembering that, no matter where you go, you can’t escape your history.

    “Creed II” opens in theaters November 21.

    Creed II
    MGM/Warner Bros.
    Creed II
    MGM/Warner Bros.

     

  • The First ‘Creed II’ Poster and Official Synopsis Are Here

    Michael B. Jordan is ready for round 2 as Adonis Creed.

    MGM and Warner Bros. released the first poster for “Creed II,” the sequel to the 2015 hit that revived the “Rocky” franchise. Jordan reprises his role as up-and-coming boxer Adonis Johnson Creed, the son of Apollo Creed and the protege of Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone).

    In the follow-up, Dolph Lundgren returns as Ivan Drago, the villain from “Rocky IV.” Stallone is back, of course, as Rocky; he also wrote the screenplay. Unfortunately, the first movie’s director, Ryan Coogler, was a bit busy with a little film called “Black Panther” and couldn’t direct the sequel. Instead, Steven Caple Jr. takes over the helm.

    The first trailer for “Creed II” will hit tomorrow. In the meantime, check out the official synopsis and poster:

    Life has become a balancing act for Adonis Creed. Between personal obligations and training for his next big fight, he is up against the challenge of his life. Facing an opponent with ties to his family’s past only intensifies his impending battle in the ring. Rocky Balboa is there by his side through it all and, together, Rocky and Adonis will confront their shared legacy, question what’s worth fighting for, and discover that nothing’s more important than family. Creed II is about going back to basics to rediscover what made you a champion in the first place, and remembering that, no matter where you go, you can’t escape your history.

  • Sylvester Stallone Kicks Off ‘Creed II’ Production With Video From Set

    Start up the “Rocky” theme music, because “Creed II” has officially entered production.

    The upcoming sequel to the 2015 “Rocky” spinoff is due out in theaters this fall, and Sylvester Stallone is getting us all ready. As one of the film’s star, producers, and co-writers, he has reason to be excited. He posted a video from the set on Instagram Monday and highlighted that it “seems like yesterday” that they were working on the last film, even if it’s an “old cliché” to say.

    “It’s a very exciting moment to be here getting ready to Watch [sic] Creed 2 to commence filming,” he wrote in part. “A very exciting day !!!”

    The veteran action star added that the cast and production team have been patiently waiting to move forward with the sequel, and now he wants fans to “get ready to watch the fists startFLYING [sic]!”

    Stallone reprises his role as Rocky Balboa in the film, a character he first portrayed 42 years ago, as he mentions in his video from the set. Back then, their setup wasn’t quite as comfortable as it is now. “Progress is being made,” he points out, which is true both in terms of their trailers and the work on “Creed II” itself.

    None of the other cast members appear in Stallone’s video, but he’ll be joined in the film by Michael B. Jordan, who plays Donnie, the son of Rocky’s former rival, the late Apollo Creed. Meanwhile, “Rocky IV” star Dolph Lundgren comes back as Ivan Drago, forcing Rocky and Donnie to deal with the past. Additionally “Creed” stars Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, Wood Harris, and Andre Ward are also returning. Let the fists start flying.

    “Creed II” is slated to hit theaters Nov. 21.

    [h/t: Slash Films]

  • Steven Caple Jr. to Direct ‘Creed 2’ Starring Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone

    “Creed 2” hired a director — and it’s not Sylvester Stallone.

    The star had flirted with directing the sequel to the 2015 hit, but instead, up-and-comer Steven Caple Jr. will take the reins, according to Variety.

    Michael B. Jordan and Tessa Thompson will return to reprise their roles, as will Stallone. The first movie’s director, Ryan Coogler, will serve as an executive producer, but has been busy himself with wrapping up “Black Panther.”

    Stallone declared in an Instagram post in early October that he would direct and produce the sequel. But he reportedly stepped aside after discussing it with Jordan and studio executives.

    “The character of Adonis Creed reflects this generation and its challenges,” Stallone said. “I believe it’s important for the director to also be a part of this generation like I was in mine, to make the story as relatable as possible.”

    Jordan was also excited to welcome his new director, who will begin production in March:

    This is Staple’s first major movie project. He caught the industry’s eyes with his IFC movie “The Land,” which he directed right after USC and premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.

    “Creed 2” is slated for release November 21, 2018.

  • Sylvester Stallone Directing ‘Creed 2’

    Rocky’s stepping back into the directing ring.

    Sylvester Stallone took to Instagram to announce that he is directing and producing a sequel to the hit 2015 movie “Creed,” in which he starred opposite Michael B. Jordan. He already teased the possible return of Dolph Lundgren’s Ivan Drago and released an image of handwritten pages from the script. Now, it seems like the project is moving full-steam ahead.

    This will be the eighth movie in the franchise. “Creed,” directed and co-written by Ryan Coogler, was a critical and commercial hit and yielded a best supporting actor Oscar nomination for Stallone.

    Now, the actor returns to the writing desk (he wrote every “Rocky” movie previous to “Creed”) and the director’s chair (he directed four of the previous movies).

    Coogler himself is busy with Marvel’s “Black Panther,” which also stars Jordan.

    “Creed 2” doesn’t have a release date yet.

  • ‘Creed 2’: Sylvester Stallone Hints at ‘Rocky IV’ Villain’s Return

    The “Creed” sequel is sticking close to its Rocky series roots.

    Sylvester Stallone has been using social media to tease a tie-in between “Rocky IV” and the upcoming “Creed 2.” Since late June, he has shared a flurry of photos featuring Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), the Russian boxer who killed Apollo Creed in the 1985 film. Stallone seems to be hinting at the character’s return in the spin-off series, which would make sense given their history.

    In the latest image, posted July 2, Drago’s head is Photoshopped into a picture, putting him face-to-face with “Creed” protagonist Donnie (Michael B. Jordan), the young man whose father he killed in “Rocky IV.”

    “Here’s a chance to stretch your imagination,” Stallone captioned the photo. “HISTORY WILL ALWAYS REPEAT ITSELF IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER, JUST GOT TO BE READY! … Sins of the Father…”

    While we still haven’t gotten any official confirmation of Drago’s return, the idea is an intriguing one. A matchup in the ring might be strange considering that most boxers would be retired by Drago’s age now, but maybe he has another fight in him. Lundgren has kept in shape, as we can see in the 2016 Instagram video below.

    Fun in the makeup trailer!

    A post shared by Dolph Lundgren (@dolphlundgren) on

    We’re sure they can find a way to work the Rocky villain into the story somehow.

    See more of Stallone’s recent Drago-centric Instagram posts below.

    Directing APOLLO AND DRAGO , The two best “cinema “boxers that ever lived!… Maybe it’s time to try to again?

    A post shared by Sly Stallone (@officialslystallone) on

    Sparring with heavyweight Giants can be a little tiring, but great fun.#CREED2

    A post shared by Sly Stallone (@officialslystallone) on

    Really like this RARE picture… ROCKY making DRAGO’S life difficult between takes!!! #CREED 2 #MGM @dolphlundgren

    A post shared by Sly Stallone (@officialslystallone) on

    [via: Sylvester Stallone/Instagram; h/t: EW]

  • ‘Rambo’ Getting a Reboot, Like Every Other Franchise

    RamboHey, movie franchises — you get a reboot, and you get a reboot, and you get a reboot! Everybody gets a reboot!

    The next in line, according to The Hollywood Reporter, is the ’80s action movie franchise “Rambo.” Nu Image/Millennium Films is developing “Rambo: New Blood,” which would cast a young actor in the role that Sylvester Stallone made famous. They are attempting to treat Rambo as a character like James Bond. Brooks McLaren is set to write the script and Ariel Vromen to direct.

    The character of Rambo originated in the 1972 novel “First Blood” by David Morrell. The book was adapted into the 1982 movie starring Stallone as a disaffected Vietnam vet who fights back against the abuse of small-town law enforcement.

    While sequel “Rambo: First Blood Part II” was also a huge hit, “Rambo III” disappointed at the box office and the franchise went dormant. Stallone revived it with 2008’s “Rambo.” A “Rambo 5” was teased as a final chapter, but earlier this year, Stallone announced he was retiring from playing the character.

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