‘Creed’: The Story Behind Rocky Balboa’s Unexpected Comeback in Ryan Coogler’s Spinoff

Inside the franchise’s rebirth for a new generation. As far as Sylvester Stallone was concerned, Rocky Balboa was the perfect swan song for his most iconic character. “When Rocky waves goodbye, that was a goodbye to the audience and a thank-you,” he told Deadline in 2016. Then a young, hungry director came calling.