If Sylvester Stallone can ever make it happen, his plan for Rocky 7 proves he still hasn’t faced the worst villain. In a since-deleted post on Instagram, Stallone shared his original Rocky 7 plan with key story points pertaining to the plot of the movie, in particular a scene with the boxer’s late wife Adrian as well as the possibility of mentoring another fighter in the community. He lamented the fact that producer Irwin Winkler owns the rights to the franchise, making another Rocky movie an ambiguous and ambitious endeavor.
It’s been over fifteen years since Stallone appeared in Rocky Balboa, proving that even at sixty, The Italian Stallion still had what it took in the ring, and has appeared in two films in the Creed spinoff franchise training the son of Apollo Creed, with Stallone's absence in Creed 3 ruining a franchise record. Rocky 7 would be a momentous occasion for Stallone who, at this point, has been playing a character whose entire life has been followed by audiences for almost fifty years. According to Stallone, his next opponent would be very different from the ones he’s faced in the past, with the most effect on his future.
Stallone's Rocky 7 Plan Had Him Defending His Neighborhood From Gentrification
According to Stallone’s notes, the plan for Rocky 7 involved Rocky defending his neighborhood from gentrification. Outside corporate forces would have moved in on North Philadelphia and tried to make it look more polished and desirable for higher-income residents, forcing out the working-class families who have called it home for decades. Rocky would have become a mentor to a Latino fighter named "Chucho the Mutt,” and together they would have led a resistance against the development.
This would have been a stark contrast to the in-ring struggles Rocky usually faces, but no less of a Herculean opponent, and one that would require a different strategy to defeat. Rocky has never been lauded as a powerful intellect, but his greatest strength has been in being an underestimated underdog. Fighting for his neighborhood in the face of overwhelming odds is very on-brand for The Italian Stallion, particularly from the perspective of someone who’s watched it change over the decades.
Why Rocky’s Neighborhood Is So Important To The Franchise
Rocky’s neighborhood has been a fixture of the franchise and is almost as well known as Rocky himself. North Philadelphia’s Kensington has become one of the most beloved film locations in cinema thanks to its synonymous association with Rocky and his fighting spirit, including Philadelphia City Hall, Adrian's pet shop, Mickey's gym, and the Italian market on 9th. The neighborhood has always rallied around Rocky and cheered him on throughout his fights, particularly in the famous run in Rocky II, and it only makes sense that he would want to defend it.
Stallone's Rocky 7 could highlight Rocky protecting the homes of the people around him because they’ve helped make him who he is. He also has to think of his restaurant, named after his late wife, and its legacy within the community that helped build him up. It's in character for Rocky to give back in the only way he can if he’s unable to get into the ring again. This also makes sense for Stallone who, by the time Rocky 7 gets made, could be closing in on his 80s and not want to do anything as physically demanding as boxing.
Rocky Fighting Corporations Would Have Created The Franchise's Worst Villain Yet
In many ways, a corporation could be the franchise’s worst villain because it has no redeeming factors and doesn’t care about the community. A lot of the other Rocky and Creed villains have been people with personal motivations and complicated backstories that typically warrant some sympathy, whereas a heartless corporation doesn’t have anything to make it relatable Rocky would have to use even more than just his fighter spirit to outmaneuver it and save his neighborhood from being transformed into something unrecognizable. It would certainly be an endurance test to see how long Rocky would be able to last against the power of corporate lawyers.
While Rocky is used to looking for weak spots in his opponent, a corporation would present a unique challenge because of its structure. Battling developers and business executives would create an interesting dramatic juxtaposition, especially since Rocky has always represented the vox populi and the best interest of the people, and gentrification would threaten his (and their) way of life. As a champion against urban renewal that isn't in the interest of the community, Rocky could lead the charge against the economic revitalization of an area deemed to be a "blight" by private development.
Making a corporation the villain of Rocky 7 might not seem as dynamic as a rival boxer, but it would be something different for the franchise and ground it in reality. Gentrification is something that happens everywhere and erases the beloved memories of community spaces in the pursuit of trendiness and upmarket pricing. Now that the success of Rocky 7 possible, its message of helping his community flourish and survive beyond him would be the best way for Rocky's legacy to make the biggest impact.
