Home / Arts and Entertainment / Stallone Begged for Rocky's Iconic Ending
Stallone Begged for Rocky's Iconic Ending
28 Sep
Summary
- Stallone changed the Rocky ending to be more uplifting.
- Producers initially refused to fund the new ending.
- Stallone practiced football with a ball all summer.
Sylvester Stallone shared on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" that he had to convince producers to change the original ending of the 1976 blockbuster "Rocky." The initial conclusion, which depicted Rocky Balboa losing to Apollo Creed and the crowd leaving, was deemed too disheartening.
Stallone recalled begging the producers for another take, and despite their lack of funds, he and friends managed to create a small section of the ring. This allowed for the filming of the beloved scene where Rocky, more concerned with his love for Adrian than the fight's outcome, embraces her.
During the interview, Stallone also confessed to his struggles with sports in high school, particularly football. He described himself as a terrible player who received the nickname "wood hands."
Determined to improve, Stallone spent an entire summer sleeping with, eating with, and conversing with a football. Despite his efforts, his high school team did not win a single game during his time playing.
