by Flack » Wed Jul 20, 2022 2:36 pm
So, here's the way I understand it.
Stallone wrote the original script to Rocky (in 3 days) and got the agency representing him, FAME (Film Artists Management Enterprises) to shop it around with the specific caveat that he would only sell it if he were also allowed to star in the movie. After many rejections, FAME made a deal with Winkler-Chartoff Productions (Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff). Winkler-Chartoff Productions already had a different movie deal with United Artists and were able to get a deal knowing that if Rocky bombed, the success of the other film ("New York, New York") would cover them. (Ironically, "Rocky" way, way outperformed "New York, New York".) Winkler-Chartoff Productions had an offer to sell Stallone's script for $300k (about $1.5m in today money) and he turned it down, insisting that he star in the film. Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff pulled a lot of favors and also mortgaged their own houses to get the money to make Rocky.
(Not for nothing, but Stallone borrowed lots and lots of details for his screenplay from other boxers. He has stated that he wrote the screenplay after watching the Ali/Wepner fight, which Wepner eventually sued him over (the case was settled out of court). The scenes of Rocky punching hanging meat and running up and down museum steps are apparently taken from Joe Frazier's autobiography. And then there are a couple of boxers, specifically Rocky Marciano and Rocky Graziano, who would like to have a word with Stallone about the character and film's name. Additionally, Stallone's script was changed heavily -- for example, in the end of the screenplay, Rocky throws the fight and walks away from boxing -- so for him to walk around moping that he solely created the success of Rocky is a bit aahhhhhhhh.)
It is 100% true that Stallone wrote and starred in Rocky, and without him, there would be no Rocky. It is also true that without Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, we definitely would not have the Rocky we know today, and it's possible we wouldn't have Rocky at all. No one was lining up to make a deal with a first-time writer that also involved a no-name demanding to star in the film. In my opinion, Stallone made the deal he felt like he had to make to get the movie made, and he did. I also feel like Winkler and Chartoff bent over backwards to include Stallone as much as possible. Let's be honest, did they really need Stallone to write or direct those other movies?
So Stallone made and continues to make money off of Rocky, but what he doesn't own is the rights to the character of Rocky Balboa, which means he can't license the character for merchandise, and doesn't make any money from stuff like that. I'm sure he gets some residuals when they make a video game that contains his likeness, but he can't sign the deals. According to what I've read, Stallone was super pissed when he pitched an idea for a Rocky prequel a few years back and Winkler turned it down.
And to be fair, Stallone has had two careers, both of which he owes to the original Rocky. He made millions by writing, directing, and starring in those early films. (Again, he got $15 million for Rocky V which, spoiler, was not worth $15 million.) When his career was in the crapper he experienced a resurgence after making Rocky Balboa, which led to the Expendables, Guardian of the Galaxy, and other opportunities. Again, Stallone has a net worth of nearly half a billion dollars, so clearly money isn't the issue here. This is akin to someone winning the lotto, choosing the lump sum over the annual payment plan, and then screaming at the lottery commission about how unfair it was that they let him do that. 9It's not exactly like that, but you get the idea.) When you sign everything away in order to get fame and success and ultimately get fame and success... is there any obligation to return the very thing you signed away in order to make the deal in the first place?
So, here's the way I understand it.
Stallone wrote the original script to Rocky (in 3 days) and got the agency representing him, FAME (Film Artists Management Enterprises) to shop it around with the specific caveat that he would only sell it if he were also allowed to star in the movie. After many rejections, FAME made a deal with Winkler-Chartoff Productions (Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff). Winkler-Chartoff Productions already had a different movie deal with United Artists and were able to get a deal knowing that if Rocky bombed, the success of the other film ("New York, New York") would cover them. (Ironically, "Rocky" way, way outperformed "New York, New York".) Winkler-Chartoff Productions had an offer to sell Stallone's script for $300k (about $1.5m in today money) and he turned it down, insisting that he star in the film. Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff pulled a lot of favors and also mortgaged their own houses to get the money to make Rocky.
(Not for nothing, but Stallone borrowed lots and lots of details for his screenplay from other boxers. He has stated that he wrote the screenplay after watching the Ali/Wepner fight, which Wepner eventually sued him over (the case was settled out of court). The scenes of Rocky punching hanging meat and running up and down museum steps are apparently taken from Joe Frazier's autobiography. And then there are a couple of boxers, specifically Rocky Marciano and Rocky Graziano, who would like to have a word with Stallone about the character and film's name. Additionally, Stallone's script was changed heavily -- for example, in the end of the screenplay, Rocky throws the fight and walks away from boxing -- so for him to walk around moping that he solely created the success of Rocky is a bit aahhhhhhhh.)
It is 100% true that Stallone wrote and starred in Rocky, and without him, there would be no Rocky. It is also true that without Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, we definitely would not have the Rocky we know today, and it's possible we wouldn't have Rocky at all. No one was lining up to make a deal with a first-time writer that also involved a no-name demanding to star in the film. In my opinion, Stallone made the deal he felt like he had to make to get the movie made, and he did. I also feel like Winkler and Chartoff bent over backwards to include Stallone as much as possible. Let's be honest, did they really need Stallone to write or direct those other movies?
So Stallone made and continues to make money off of Rocky, but what he doesn't own is the rights to the character of Rocky Balboa, which means he can't license the character for merchandise, and doesn't make any money from stuff like that. I'm sure he gets some residuals when they make a video game that contains his likeness, but he can't sign the deals. According to what I've read, Stallone was super pissed when he pitched an idea for a Rocky prequel a few years back and Winkler turned it down.
And to be fair, Stallone has had two careers, both of which he owes to the original Rocky. He made millions by writing, directing, and starring in those early films. (Again, he got $15 million for Rocky V which, spoiler, was not worth $15 million.) When his career was in the crapper he experienced a resurgence after making Rocky Balboa, which led to the Expendables, Guardian of the Galaxy, and other opportunities. Again, Stallone has a net worth of nearly half a billion dollars, so clearly money isn't the issue here. This is akin to someone winning the lotto, choosing the lump sum over the annual payment plan, and then screaming at the lottery commission about how unfair it was that they let him do that. 9It's not exactly like that, but you get the idea.) When you sign everything away in order to get fame and success and ultimately get fame and success... is there any obligation to return the very thing you signed away in order to make the deal in the first place?