Stallone said he was offered $300,000 for the rights to Rocky, but turned it down because producers wanted a bigger name to star in the film instead. "It was really insane at the time 'cause I was pretty broke," he added. Luckily, his persistence paid off, and the film earned $117 million.

How many times was Rocky's script rejected?

Sylvester stallone's Rocky script was rejected 1500 times before it was accepted. Disney was rejected 302 times before they became Disney. JK Rowling was rejected 12 times before Harry Potter was published.

How did Sylvester Stallone lose the rights to Rocky?

The actor has long been galled by the fact that, as a young unknown in Hollywood, he signed a deal in which he gave up ownership of the “Rocky” franchise, which he created. (Stallone wrote the film.) Since at least 1976, Rocky's rights have been in the hands of producer Irwin Winkler.

How much did it cost to make Rocky $1?

Rocky was shot on a mere $1 Million budget—that's pennies in Hollywood. Here are a few ways they cut corners: The artist who created the poster of Rocky for the big fight painted red shorts with white stripes, instead of white with red.

How much could Sylvester Stallone bench press in his prime?

Stallone claims to have been able to bench press 385-400 lbs (174.6-181.4 kg) and squat 500 lbs (226.8 kg) in his prime. While in a bench pressing contest with former Mr. Olympia Franco Columbu, he severely tore his pectoral muscle and needed over 160 stitches on it.

1977: Sylvester Stallone on making ROCKY | Film 77 | Classic Movie Interviews | BBC Archive

How much could Lou Ferrigno bench press in his prime?

Bench-pressed 560 lbs in his prime (age 25). Now, at the age of 50, he benches 400 lbs. Although Lou played "The Hulk" in the TV series, the growls and snarls heard in it aren't his. They were made by actor Ted Cassidy (Lurch in The Addams Family (1964)) until 1979 (first two seasons).

What is Mark Wahlberg max bench?

“She's in a league of her own”: 5 ft 8 in Behemoth Mark Wahlberg, Who Bench-presses 335 lbs for Fun, Won't Dare to Compete With X-Men Star Halle Berry. Mark Wahlberg has appeared in many movies as an action star for which he had to apply a strict workout plan and a diet philosophy.

Who was originally supposed to play Rocky?

And the words Stallone is mouthing on screen are the words he wrote in 3 1/2 days and sold to producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff on the condition that he would play ''Rocky,'' and not Burt Reynolds, or James Caan, or Ryan O'Neal, who were being mentioned for the part.

How much did Rocky weigh in Rocky 1?

According to Stallone, these were his weights for each of the first four Rocky movies: Rocky I: 178 pounds. Rocky II: 200 pounds. Rocky III: 166 pounds.

Why did Rocky go poor?

Paulie unknowingly had Rocky sign a power of attorney over to Rocky's investment accountant, who had embezzled and squandered all of his money on real estate deals gone sour. In addition, the accountant had failed to pay Rocky's taxes over the past six years and his mansion had been mortgaged by $400,000.

Why didn t they want Sylvester Stallone to play Rocky?

They read the script and loved it, except for one thing: They didn't want to have Sylvester Stallone play the main character, Rocky. You can't blame them. Stallone was an unknown actor at the time, and other Hollywood types would be a much safer bet at the box office.

Why did Sylvester Stallone leave Rocky?

Stallone's clash with Winkler is an even bigger reason for his absence in “Creed III,” so big that it might mean Stallone never plays Rocky again. The two have long feuded over rights to the “Rocky” franchise, which Winkler has owned since the Oscar-winning 1976 original.

How many days did it take Sylvester Stallone to write Rocky?

Sylvester Stallone wrote the screenplay for Rocky in three and a half days, shortly after watching the championship match between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner that took place at Richfield Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio, on March 24, 1975.

Who was Rocky's hardest opponent?

Ivan Drago: Drago was a Soviet boxer who was trained to be a killing machine. He was incredibly strong and had a powerful punch. Rocky faced Drago in a 15-round fight in Rocky IV, and it was one of the most brutal fights in boxing history.

How much did Stallone make from Rocky?

His initial salary for "Rocky" was a modest $35,000, but with his contract guaranteeing him 10 points on the back end, he ultimately earned around $2.5 million due to the film's massive success. The success of "Rocky" paved the way for Stallone to become one of the highest-paid action stars of the 1980s and 1990s.

Does Sylvester Stallone get royalties from Rocky?

In Stallone's case, although he does not have ownership rights over the film, he continues to make money from the project via back-end payments.

How old was Rocky in Rocky 1?

Read on. (Note: ESPN Classic will be showing "Rocky" at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday.) In Reel Life: Rocky Balboa is a 30-year-old club fighter. In Real Life: Sylvester Stallone was inspired by Chuck Wepner, a 35-year-old club fighter who also happened to be the No.

Where did they film Rocky?

The film Rocky, produced in 1976, not only won accolades but also beautifully highlighted the enchanting landscape of Philadelphia. Although the majority of scenes were filmed on location in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, some scenes were filmed in Los Angeles at the Olympic Auditorium.

Did the actors in Rocky actually hit each other?

Sylvester Stallone decided that for the shooting of the fight, he and Dolph Lundgren should hit one another for real, so as to increase the intensity of the scene.

Who was the first choice for Rocky?

None. The producers offered Stallone $360,000 to buy the script. Ryan O' Neal and James Caan were considered, but Stallone wouldn't sell the script to anyone who wouldn't let him play the hero.

Who else auditioned for Rocky?

Instead, they had much bigger names in mind, such as Peyton Place's Ryan O'Neill, Burt Reynolds, Robert Redford, and James Caan. The latter three were all Hollywood A-listers and household names that audiences were accustomed to seeing on the big screen.

How much could Arnold Schwarzenegger bench press?

"My best bench press was 525, my best deadlift was 710, and my best squat was 610," he said.

Who is the most muscular actor?