Stallone’s Absence Means Creed 3 Can Repeat A Rocky Balboa Death Trick

Sylvester Stallone is not returning as Rocky Balboa for Creed 3, but that could give the film an opportunity to use a death trick employed by 2006’s Rocky Balboa. The relationship between Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis and Stallone’s famous boxer was pivotal to the first two installments of the Creed franchise. However, that will change in Creed 3, as Stallone isn’t in the movie. The film picks up seven years after Creed 2 and follows Adonis—now living a more stable life alongside his wife, Bianca (Tessa Thompson) and their daughter—as he is confronted by a childhood-friend-turned-enemy, Damian Anderson (Jonathan Majors).

Sylvester Stallone’s absence from Creed 3 prompted speculation about the possibility of Rocky being killed off-screen. The film’s trailer only mentioned Rocky once, as Adonis discussed the people in his life. Though Creed has the potential to be its own standalone franchise, Balboa was a vital element of the first two films, and his absence could leave a prominent emotional void in Adonis’ world. On the other hand, if the character is, in fact, dead, Creed 3 could benefit from his demise. Specifically, the movie could replay a death trick used by Rocky Balboa to explain Stallone not reprising his role.

Rocky Dying Offscreen Could Mirror Adrian’s Death In Rocky Balboa

One of the most important characters throughout the Rocky franchise was Balboa’s wife, Adrian Pennino (Talia Shire), who acted as Rocky’s anchor over the course of five movies. Adrian was supposed to appear in Rocky Balboa, but she was cut in favor of focusing on the boxer dealing with grief. While her absence could have been detrimental to the story, the film used her memory as an emotional through line for the Italian Stallion, as he attempted to make peace with her no longer being there. Her death imbued Rocky Balboa with a gravitas akin to 1976’s Rocky, which arguably helped the 2006 film find critical success.

If Rocky has passed in Creed 3, the movie could follow Rocky Balboa‘s example in using his demise to give its story a harder emotional impact. The Creed franchise focuses on drama as much as it does action, with storylines like Adonis coming to terms with his father’s history and Bianca dealing with her hearing loss. With that, Rocky’s death could fit Creed 3‘s story. Adonis relied heavily on Rocky’s guidance, so not having him there from the beginning could heighten the movie’s tension, as he wouldn’t only have to deal with the return of Jonathan Major’s villainous Damian, but also with the death of his mentor and father figure.

Will Creed 3 Really Kill Off Rocky Balboa?

Sylvester Stallone’s Italian Stallion is the face of the Rocky universe, so it’s difficult to imagine Creed 3 killing him off. Yet, that may be probable given the behind-the-scenes issues Stallone has had with franchise producer Irwin Winkler. The actor was expected to lead another Rocky film after Creed 2. In 2019, Stallone said he had a new Rocky movie idea that centers on his character training a young immigrant fighter. In 2021, Stallone gave a less optimistic outlook on the sequel to The Hollywood Reporter, speaking of Rocky VII in past tense while discussing his failed attempt at obtaining partial ownership of the property:

“They wanted another ‘Rocky.’ And I was willing to do it. But I said, ‘After 45 years, can we change the playing field a little bit? Level it out? Can’t I get a piece of what I created all these years ago?’ […] [The producers] still get a piece. I don’t want anyone to control it. If I write it and the studio agrees to do it, it’s done. You can’t [make a ‘Rocky’ sequel] just because you want your children to have a job. Or if you don’t get more money, that you can block it. The other producer, Bob Chartoff, was always very nice. Irwin Winkler was just the opposite.”

In that same interview, he stated, “I’m not an executive producer on the ‘Creed’ movies. […] I’m the only one left out.” Stallone’s animosity with Winkler and his displeasure with the handling of his financial participation in the property seem to point to him not returning to the franchise, which could, in turn, lend credence to speculation about Rocky Balboa dying in Creed 3. Though there is a possibility of Creed 3 addressing his absence differently, the character could reasonably be killed off in the movie, as it could provide a poignant in-universe way to give Rocky closure should Stallone decide not to reprise the role.