10 Iconic Movie Moments The Director Didn't Understand
4. Sylvester Stallone Regretting Killing Off Apollo Creed Shows He Did Not Fully Understand Its Significance In Rocky IV
Apollo Creed (the late, great Carl Weathers)'s death at the hands of Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) in Rocky IV is one of the franchise's most shocking and devastating moments, and with good reason. In addition to selling Drago as a physical challenge unlike anything seen up until that point, it also leaves Rocky with one less technical and emotional anchor to fall back on.
In recent years, Sylvester Stallone has expressed his regrets in killing off the fan favourite character. While showcasing the Director's Cut of the 1985 sports drama, the action legend stated he would have preferred to keep Creed alive but wheelchair-bound. Additionally. the former heravyweight champion would have served as Rocky's trainer in the lead-up to his clash with Drago.
While seeing more of their relationship would have been welcomed, the Italian Stallion needed to take on this new threat alone to showcase how far he had come as a pugilist. Additionally, the trainer/trainee dynamic was already done in Rocky III, and there would have no need to tread old ground again.