What Happened to Rocky Film Series?

The 'Rocky' film series began in 1976 with the critically acclaimed and Oscar-winning film 'Rocky', written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. The film, an underdog story inspired by a real boxing match, launched Stallone's career and spawned a highly successful franchise. Six 'Rocky' films were released, concluding with 'Rocky Balboa' in 2006, which offered a poignant farewell to the character.

A significant turning point for the franchise came in 2015 with the release of 'Creed', a spin-off focusing on Adonis Creed, the son of Rocky's former rival and friend, Apollo Creed. Sylvester Stallone reprised his role as Rocky Balboa, now a mentor to Adonis. This new direction revitalized the series, garnering critical praise and commercial success, leading to 'Creed II' (2018) and 'Creed III' (2023). Michael B. Jordan, who stars as Adonis, also made his directorial debut with 'Creed III'.

Despite the franchise's continued success, a long-standing and public dispute over ownership rights has persisted between Sylvester Stallone and producer Irwin Winkler. Stallone has repeatedly stated that he has 'zero ownership' of the 'Rocky' franchise, a situation he attributes to his inexperience early in his career. He has expressed frustration over not being able to leave an equity stake in 'Rocky' to his children, often criticizing the producers for retaining full control. This conflict notably influenced Stallone's decision not to appear in 'Creed III' and his initial strong disapproval of a proposed 'Drago' spin-off.

As of 2026, the 'Creed-verse' is actively expanding. 'Creed IV' is officially in development, with Michael B. Jordan expected to return as both star and director, and producer Irwin Winkler confirming a 'really good story' is in place. The film is anticipated for a 2028 release, allowing time after 'Creed III'. A 'Drago' spin-off, which was announced in 2022 and would have focused on Ivan and Viktor Drago, was confirmed to be 'all but dead' by Dolph Lundgren in May 2026, with MGM refocusing efforts on 'Creed IV'. However, a 'Creed' TV series spin-off titled 'Delphi', focusing on young boxers training at the Delphi gym, is set to begin production in Los Angeles on May 18, 2026, and has already secured a second season for Prime Video.

In a nod to its origins, the original 'Rocky' film is set for a 50th-anniversary re-release in 4K in limited U.S. theaters from November 7-11, 2026. This re-release will include an exclusive first look at 'I Play Rocky', a biographical feature film detailing Sylvester Stallone's real-life journey to write and star in the original movie. 'I Play Rocky', starring Anthony Ippolito as a young Stallone and directed by Peter Farrelly, is scheduled for a nationwide theatrical release on November 20, 2026. Furthermore, Sylvester Stallone has also pitched a 'Rocky' prequel TV series, outlining a story about a 17-year-old Rocky Balboa, which he revealed in 2021 and provided an update on in 2024, indicating it's still a project 'very near and dear to his heart'.

Regarding streaming, all three 'Creed' movies were confirmed to stream on Netflix in the US starting June 1, 2026, but are scheduled to leave the platform by September 1, 2026, moving to other VOD platforms and potentially Prime Video.