To Sylvester Stallone's displeasure, Dolph Lundgren answers Stallone's criticism of a Rocky spin-off centering on Drago and his son, Ivan Drago.
Sylvester Stallone's heated comments against Dolph Lundgren's role in Drago prompted Dolph Lundgren to respond.
Rocky was written by Sylvester Stallone in 1975, and he sold the rights to the film to Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff with the agreement that he would play the lead role.
Stallone hired Lundgren to portray Ivan Drago in 1985's Rocky IV, nine years after the franchise-starter won Best Picture and made him a superstar.
In Creed II, Michael B. Jordan's Adonis (Michael B. Jordan) faces up against Florian Munteanu's Viktor Drago (Dolph Lundgren's villain's son), who is the son of Lundgren's villain.
The boxing business is now growing at a rapid pace.
Another newly disclosed MGM project revolves around Ivan and Viktor Drago and will be directed by Jordan. Creed III will not star Stallone's Italian Stallion.
Stallone reacted angrily to the news, denouncing the Drago spinoff and accusing producer Winkler of denying him the right to utilise the Rocky name and property.
Related: Rocky the Movie: Who Owns the Rights?
In an Instagram post, Lundgren clarified his role in a potential Drago spinoff.
The proposal, according to the actor, is still in the early stages of discussion, but he had assumed that Stallone was involved in its creation.
The complete post may be seen below:
Stallone's latest Instagram attack on Winkler comes after he doubled down on his previous remarks, claiming that the actor had not gotten a phone call from Dolph Lundgren, who earned his start in the industry thanks to Stallone's casting decision in Rocky IV.
Both have worked on the Expendables franchise and will be reunited in the Expend4bles.
So it's possible that Lundgren assumed Stallone was already aware of the Drago movie prior to the leak, but it's not impossible.
That Stallone may have finally come to terms with their misunderstanding is encouraging, but it's too bad the consequences of a decision he made 47 years ago are still haunting him.
Many other films from the 1970s and 1980s have gone to court for character rights in addition to Rocky.
Screenwriter Victor Miller has regained control of his film Friday the 13th after a legal battle, as has Predator writer John Ridley.
In the end, the two sides were unable to come to an agreement, and Prey, the prequel, will be available on Hulu on August 5.
The news that a Drago spin-off was in the works shouldn't have come as a surprise to fans.
Unexpectedly, Stallone has very no say on the IP (his Rocky prequel series notwithstanding).
However, if he hadn't sold the rights, Stallone's career wouldn't be what it is now.
However, it's natural to wish to leave something to one's family.
Whatever the case may be, Lundgren's supporters can rest easy knowing where he stands in the midst of all the controversy that has erupted outside the ring.
