Sylvester Stallone isn't going down from this battle over the 'Rocky' franchise. In an Instagram post on Saturday, July 30, the 76-year-old Golden Globe winner expressed his displeasure with the recently announced Ivan Drago spinoff of his 'Rocky' franchise, publicly criticizing returning producer Irvin Winkler and his longtime friend and former costar Dolph Lundgren.
Stallone shared screenshots on Instagram to respond to a Thursday, July 28 report from The Wrap that Robert Lawton had been hired to write the screenplay for a Drago spin-off about Ivan Drago's origins and calling the news another heartbreaker amid his ongoing battle for rights to the Rocky franchise. Stallone has no involvement in this spinoff, calling Winkler's sons Charles and David moronic vulture children.
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ONCE AGAIN, IRWIN WINKLER, this PATHETIC 94 year old PRODUCER and HIS MORONIC VULTURE CHILDREN, Charles And David, are once again picking clean THE BONES of another wonderful character I created without even telling me… he wrote in the caption.
I APOLOGIZE to the FANS, I never wanted ROCKY characters to be exploited by these parasites… Stallone continued. By the way, I once had nothing but respect for Dolph but he NEVER told me about what was going on behind my back with the character I created for him!!! REAL FRIENDS Are more precious than gold. Followed by another post, featuring a photoshopped image of a vampiric Winkler sucking Rocky's blood and stabbing him in the back.
Stallone wrote: After IRWIN WINKLER And FAMILY SUCK ROCKY DRY! Presumed to be the most hated, untalented, decrepitated, Producer in Hollywood and his cowardly children have found their next meal… Drago? Throughout history so many artists in every industry, recording, painting writing, you name it have been destroyed by these bloodsuckers Who have destroyed so many families, lining their pockets with other people's work.. #parasite producers #exploited artists victims.
Who are Irwin Winkler's sons?
Winkler has three sons, Charles Winkler, David Winkler, and Adam Winkler. Charles is the eldest son and is an American television and film director and producer. In 1987, Charles wrote and directed his first feature film for United Artists, 'You Talkin' To Me?.' He co-wrote and directed the feature film 'Disturbed,' starring Malcolm McDowell, two years later. He has directed many movies including, 'AIDS' and 'Streets of Blood.' Charles and his wife, actress Sandra Nelson, and their two children currently reside in Los Angeles. Winkler's other son David Winkler is also a film producer and is the film producer of 'Creed' franchise, 'Rocky Balboa,' 'The Mechanic,' and 'The Gambler,' 'The Arrangement: A Love Story.'
The article by The Wrap which was published last week and to which Stallone reacted announced Lundgreen's role as Russian boxer Ivan Drago in the upcoming spinoff. Lundgren first played the role in 1985's Rocky IV before reprising it in 2018's Creed II.
Stallone has previously fought for ownership of the character and story he created, telling Variety in 2019 that he has zero ownership of the franchise. He was very angry and furious that he'd never be able to leave any equity stake to his children, but he also regretted not pushing hard enough when negotiating the original film deal.