The next biggest boxing film, a new Rocky sequel, is set to be released in December 2006 or early 2007.  Written and directed by Sylvester Stallone, Rocky VI, also called Rocky Balboa, has primarily been filmed throughout Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  However, in December 2005, the production team for the new boxing movie set out to Las Vegas for a series of fight scenes, which were filmed over a four day period.  A call for extras was placed on sylvesterstallone.com, as well as at beinamovie.com.  Fans traveled far and near for their opportunity to spend several days with the cast and crew, obtain autographs and to have the chance to say “I was there.”  The film has been closely followed by local news stations based in Philadelphia, which is noted on Stallone’s official website.  

The latest boxing saga for the one-time prize fighter, Rocky Balboa, played by Stallone, is said to parallel the comeback story of boxing legend, George Foreman.  According to a statement printed on BeInAMovie.com, Stallone said that he wanted to tell Foreman’s comeback story.  

In the newest boxing release from the Rocky series, Balboa is now a restaurant owner grieving over the loss of his wife, Adrian.  After deciding to return to the ring for local fights, Balboa is confronted with the opportunity to fight the reigning heavyweight champion.  This act garners major boxing media attention, as does any major bout that Balboa has faced, and so is the story of Rocky VI.

While focusing on the story of boxing, the films from the Rocky series are geared more toward not giving up and staying in the fight, whether you win or lose.  Fans who have followed the films since their inception will recall Balboa, a struggling boxer, never turned away from a challenge.  It is the story of preserverance that has not only kept the boxing career of Balboa going, but also the desire to do what he loves.

Rocky VI, also called Rocky Balboa, is currently defined as being in post-production.  While it’s exact release date is not yet confirmed, industry experts believe it to be in late 2006 or early 2007 as previously noted.  Some believe the film is slated for a Christmas Day 2006 release, but only time will tell.  After a long hiatus from filming the world of boxing, Rocky makes yet another visit to the big screen with a crowd of eager fans anxiously awaiting the next storyline in one of the most anticipated boxing sequels ever made.


© The Canadian Press, 2007