Creed II: Sylvester Stallone says sequel will be his ‘last rodeo’ as Rocky Balboa
The actor is retiring the boxing gloves, once and for all
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Your support makes all the difference.It seems Sylvester Stallone is done with one of his most famous roles.
More than 40 years after first playing Rocky Balboa, the American actor has described his latest appearance as the character in Creed II as “probably my last rodeo”.
Stallone has played the Philly boxer in six films since 1976. While returning as the beloved character in the Creed sequel (a spin-off to his Rocky franchise), he's now expressed his belief that the series should continue without him.
“I thought Rocky was over in 2006,“ Stallone said in an Instagram post, referencing Rocky Balboa. ”I was very happy with that. Then all of a sudden this young man presented himself and the whole story changed. It went on to a new generation, new problems, new adventures.”
During the speech, he gestures to Creed's lead star Michael B Jordan who Stallone states must “carry the mantle” going forward.
“I got you, bro,” Jordan says as he embraces his off-screen mentor.
You can watch the full moment below.
In the Creed films, Balboa is a mentor to Adonis Creed, the son of his former rival Apollo. With the release of the sequel, Stallone states Rocky's “story has been told,” adding: "Though it breaks my heart, Sadly all things must pass... and end."
He said: “There's a whole new world that's gonna be opening up for the audience, for this generation.”
Jordan returns as the titular boxing champion in a film that will see Adonis face an opponent “with ties to his family's past" - namely Drago, the son of franchise villain Ivan (Dolph Lundgren) who killed Creed's father, Apollo in 1985 sequel Rocky IV.
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