Rocky did not appear at all in Creed III, but that's still better than what Expend4bles did with The Expendables movies when he was already a veteran Hollywood actor.
However, years after the Rocky franchise concluded, it was rebooted with 2015's Creed, which featured Rocky Balboa as a mentor figure and coach for his old friend Apollo Creed's son. Compared to The Expendables movies, all three Creed films have received exceptional reviews, and critics have praised Creed movies handled his exit much better than the most recent Expendables film.
The Creed Franchise Gave Stallone’s Character A Much Better Sendoff Than The Expendables
Rocky Said Goodbye To Adonis At The End Of Creed II
There was no need for Stallone to appear as Rocky in Creed III, since he had already ed the torch to Michael B. Jordan in the previous film. At the end of Creed II, after Adonis Creed managed to defeat Viktor Drago, Rocky told him it's his time now and then walked away from the boxing ring. Rocky always had a tough relationship with his son in the final Rocky movie and the Creed films, and he barely even knew his grandson, so the end of Creed II saw him go to Vancouver to spend time with his family. This was a fitting ending for one of the most iconic movie characters ever.
I’ll Forever Be Thankful For Creed For Making My Favorite Rocky Movie So Much Better In Hindsight
Creed is an amazing sports movie in its own right, but I will always be grateful that it made one of my favorite Rocky movies even better.
Similar to Creed II, Expend4bles was also meant to be a "ing of the torch" movie, which would see Jason Statham take the lead position in the series from Stallone. Therefore, Stallone wasn't actually in most of the movie. Near the beginning of the film, Stallone's character, Barney, actually faked his own death. This was actually part of his larger plan to take down the film's villain, Ocelot. However, it raised many questions, such as why Barney couldn't tell Statham's character, Lee, about his plan. Ultimately, Barney's arc in Exepnd4bles wasn't as strong as Rocky's in Creed II.
Rocky Not Returning In Creed III Was Good For The Legacy Of Sylvester Stallone’s Character
The Creed Movies Made Rocky An Even Better Character
After it was revealed that Stallone would not be returning for Creed III, there was worry that the franchise would not be as effective without Rocky. However, Creed III received great reviews, proving that ing the torch to Michael B. Jordan was the right move for the future of the series. Furthermore, after Creed II, there weren't any more obvious stories to be told about Rocky. Throughout the first two Creed films, he had opened himself up to Adonis, beat cancer, faced some old rivals, and returned to his family.
It was risky to bring back Rocky for the Creed films in the first place, since they easily could have ruined the character.
It never felt like Rocky was missing in Creed III. He had taught Adonis everything he knew, and it was clear that it was time for Rocky to move on from boxing. It was risky to bring back Rocky for the Creed films in the first place, since they easily could have ruined the character. This has happened to numerous characters from other movie franchises. However, the Creed films miraculously made Rocky an even better character. Since Creed II provided Rocky with such a natural exit, it's good that they decided not to bring him back again in Creed III.
Will Sylvester Stallone Ever Play Rocky Or Barney Again?
It's Unlikely Stallone Will Ever Play Rocky Or Barney Again
In some ways, the Rocky and The Expendables franchises are very similar, especially since Sylvester Stallone wrote and directed the first entry in each series. However, it now seems like his time in both of the franchises has come to an end. Expend4ables has often been described as a movie designed to transition from Stallone to Statham leading the series. Given The Expendables 4's negative reviews, it's possible the studio may try to bring Stallone back again to make a better fifth movie, but it seems like they are more interested in moving forward with different characters.
Expendables 4 Holds An Impressive Franchise Record, Despite Its $51 Million Failure
Despite its astonishing failure at the box office, the most recent Expendables movie actually managed to defeat an impressive franchise long record.
On the flip side, Creed III received great reviews without Stallone, so it's likely the series will continue the course it's on. There's also a chance Stallone wouldn't want to return as Rocky, since he doesn't necessarily agree with the darker direction the Creed movies are heading in. Stallone has expressed that he doesn't like when heroes go to the dark places Adonis did in Creed III, which is likely why a lot of the later Rocky movies were quite silly. Therefore, it doesn't seem likely that Sylvester Stallone will ever play Rocky Balboa or Barney Ross again.
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The Creed franchise, a continuation of the Rocky series, centers on Adonis Creed, son of Apollo Creed, as he rises in the boxing world under the mentorship of Rocky Balboa. The series explores Adonis's personal growth, relationships, and rivalries. Creed (2015), Creed II (2018), and Creed III (2023) combine intense boxing drama with character-driven storytelling, with Michael B. Jordan leading as both star and director of the latest installment. The series is praised for bringing new energy to the Rocky legacy, with further sequels and spin-offs under consideration.
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- Created by
- David Callaham, Sylvester Stallone
- First Film
- The Expendables
- Latest Film
- Expend4bles
- Cast
- Jason Statham, Curtis Jackson, Megan Fox, Dolph Lundgren, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Randy Couture, Andy Garcia, Sylvester Stallone, Terry Crews, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jet Li, Bruce Willis, Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Wesley Snipes
- Movie(s)
- The Expendables, The Expendables 2, The Expendables 3, Expend4bles, Expendables 5
- Character(s)
- Barney Ross, Lee Christmas, Gunner Jensen, Trent Ma, Yin Yang, Hale Caesar, Booker, Maggie (The Expendables)
The Expendables is an American action film franchise created by David Callaham and Sylvester Stallone. It revolves around a team of elite mercenaries and serves as an homage to 1980s and 1990s blockbuster action films, featuring iconic action stars. The franchise includes four films, released between 2010 and 2023, along with comic books, video games, and potential spin-offs, including a canceled all-female film. Known for its ensemble cast and explosive action, The Expendables celebrates both classic and modern action heroes.
