Sylvester Stallone has unveiled the trailer for his Rocky IV extended cut, which brings an all-new version of the movie to theaters for one night only in November. Dubbed Rocky vs. Drago: The Ultimate Director’s Cut, the movie was personally edited by Stallone without studio oversight, something he says he’s always had an issue with.
The new trailer touts how Rocky Balboa vs. Ivan Drago was “voted the greatest fight in cinematic history.” It also teases that this new release will include “never before seen footage,” a quality Stallone has been promising throughout his edit of this new cut. Even for Rocky fans who might have already seen Rocky IV about a million or so times, it’s hard not to feel some excitement over catching his new edit on the big screen after watching the new trailer.
Per Fathom Events, the event listing reads: “The most triumphant sports-drama franchise in history returns with a new look in Rocky vs. Drago: The Ultimate Director’s Cut. This live event is coming to movie theaters for one night only and includes an introduction and Q&A with Sylvester Stallone! Director, Writer, and star SYLVESTER STALLONE masterfully reshapes Rocky IV, delivering 40 minutes of never-before-seen footage. With more intense fight scenes, world heavyweight champion Rocky Balboa (Stallone) defends his title once again, this time against Drago (Dolph Lundgren), a six-foot-four, 261-pound fighter who has the backing of the Soviet Union.”
The original Rocky IV was written and directed by Sylvester Stallone, though he didn’t get the final say on the theatrical cut released in 1985. Regardless, the sequel is one of the most popular installments of the Rocky franchise, featuring the iconic fight between Rocky Balboa and Ivan Drago that fans still talk about to this day. Something fans should appreciate with the new version is all of the extra footage of the feud between the two fighters.
While we’re dealing with an extended cut, there will be some scenes not featured in Rocky vs. Drago: The Ultimate Director’s Cut that were in the theatrical release. Notably, Paulie’s robot SICO has been axed from the new cut, according to Sylvester Stallone, who said on Instagram that “the robot is going to the junkyard forever, no more robot.” Robert Doornick, the founder of International Robotics who voiced the robot, theorized that the real reason for its exclusion was to avoid paying royalty fees. In any case, don’t expect to see SICO in the director’s cut.
Rocky vs. Drago: The Ultimate Director’s Cut will be screened in theaters for one night only on Thursday, November 11th. You can see if the movie is playing at a theater near you by visiting the official website for Fathom Events}. This is a passion project Stallone has been teasing for a long time, and now that it’s nearly out, he can focus on filming The Expendables 4 in October.
Ahead of its screening on Nov. 11 in theaters, you can check out the official trailer below.
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