Since the debut of the first Rocky, the character of Rocky Balboa has become one of the most adored icons in cinema history. Although fans were eagerly anticipating his return in the Creed films, Sylvester Stallone made it clear that he didn’t agree with the original plans for the character. 

Creed picks up where the Rocky series left off, following Apollo Creed’s son as he begins his own journey in the world of boxing. In need of a mentor, Adonis, played by Michael B. Jordan, seeks out Rocky, in hopes that the seasoned champion can help him out. 

Throughout the Creed series, Rocky, in his older age, took on the role of the mentor, while Adonis began to reflect Rocky himself as he was rising to popularity. But the original plans for Creed had Rocky’s story end much sooner, as co-writer and director Ryan Coogler had ideas to kill the Italian Stallion in the film. 

Screenrant notes that Stallone himself detailed the approach that Coogler wanted to take when it comes to Rocky in Creed. Stallone said that Coogler initially pursued the idea of Rocky having Lou Gehrig’s disease, which would eventually kill him. It isn’t understating it to say that Stallone was not fond of the idea. 

“And I said, I have a big thing about characters like that dying. I’d much rather them get on a train going somewhere, and you never see them again. But to die, it will just bum the audience out completely,” Stallone told GQ. 

Stallone would eventually win out, with Rocky not being killed off in any of the Creed films. But, he did get the treatment he was hoping for, with Rocky not appearing in Creed 3 but lines being included regarding him still living a happy life. 

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