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The Oscar-winning franchise that turned Sylvester Stallone into an icon was almost a TV movie. Yes, right in the early stages,Rocky’s script was considered for it. The film would have been totally different if it was not saved by Winkler.
At that time, Henry Winkler had enough power to save his pal. Stallone asked him to pitch hisRockyscript to ABC executives, which, no doubt, Winkler did. However, the execs bought the script and intended it to turn into a TV movie. But ultimately Winkler again saved theRambostar.
Also read:4 Box Office Nightmares Reportedly Made Sylvester Stallone a Mammoth $71,000,000
Know How Henry Winkler Saved Sylvester Stallone’sRocky
After Henry Winkler rose to fame,Sylvester Stallonealso moved to Los Angeles from New York in hopes of kick-starting his career. Right after Stallone arrived in the city, he got his car broke down. That’s when he called Winkler.
Winkler, along with his wife and dog, picked him up. During the ride, they had a word about Stallone’s passion project, which eventually becameRocky.
As Winkler revealed onHowie Mandel Does Stuff Clips,“He [Stallone] gave me a script, and I took the script to ABC, and I said, ‘Hey, look, it’s a friend of mine, and I would like to produce this,’ and they bought it.”He then continued:
“And then they said to me, ‘But we have to replace the writer.’ I went back to Sly, and I said, ‘Here’s the good news: we sold it. Bad news is they want to replace the writer.’ He says, ‘[Stallone voice] Henry, don’t let them do that to me.’ I said okay. I went back to ABC, I said, ‘I know you don’t do this, but I need that script back, and here’s all the money.’ I got the script, gave it to Sly; a year and a half later, Rocky came out.”
The actor noticed how“distraught”Stallone was when he got to know that someone else was rewriting his script. So, Winkler used his influence as Fonzie onHappy Daysto convince ABC to return the rights to Stallone.
Even though the scripting problem was solved, Stallone’sRockystill faced tough days in order to get it made onto the big screen. Although the film producers green-lit the project, they wanted to cast a well-known star as Rocky Balboa. As a result, Stallone refused to sell his script unless he got to play the lead role. And eventually, he played heavyweight boxer.
Also read:“Because I’m a woman”: Marvel Actress Who Refused to Join Sylvester Stallone’s Expendables Berated Hollywood for Only Giving Top Dogs Like Arnold Schwarzenegger a Chance
The film was released in 1976, earning $225 million at the box office. Sly received Best Actor and Original Screenplay nominations, and the film won the Best Picture category at the Oscars. Later, he wrote and starred in sixRockyfilms, directing four of them.
Henry Winkler is a True Friend Everyone Needs
Henry Winkler and Sylvester became best of friends while working on 1974’sThe Lords of Flatbush.Winkler quipped that he didn’t receive“a penny”for his work (helping Stallone withRocky), but he admitted by supporting Sly onHowie Mandel Does Stuff Clips:
“He literally cannot live with himself if his baby that he’s been writing in that apartment in New York, having painted his windows black, was given to somebody else to just make pablum out of.”
No doubt, Winkler is the true example of what a true friendship is called. With his newfound fame fromHappy Days, he was able to buy the script back, ultimately savingRockyfrom the near disaster.
Shreya Jha
Articles Published :1042
Meet Shreya, FandomWire’s go-to Pop-Culture Writer. She holds a master’s degree in Journalism and a pop culture obsession that rivals even the most die-hard ‘Star Wars’ and Marvel fans.Her articles have been published in Animated Times, Creator Mail, and The Luxxe Mag. When Shreya’s not busy dishing out hot takes, she is lost in the world of rom-coms.
