Sylvester Stallone Confirms 'Rambo: Last Blood' Films after 'Creed'

Here's the thing about Sylvester Stallone nowadays; so much of his career is about turning back the clock. Even with The Expendables films he's essentially reliving old glories, and a comedy like Grudge Match was all about playing off his Rocky days. But now after what has been a few years of speculation, Stallone is taking a more direct approach by confirming that a fifth Rambo movie is on the way, coming right after he reprises his old Rocky Balboa role.

Stallone took to Twitter to give fans a look at what is shaping up to be a very busy 2015. He's headed to Philly now to begin work on Creed, a spinoff in which he'll again lace up the gloves as Rocky Balboa. The film has Rocky reluctantly agreeing to train the talented grandson of his late friend, Apollo Creed.  Michael B. Jordan stars as the younger Creed, with Tessa Thompson co-starring and Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station) directing.

Once that's over, Stallone will get armed up for Rambo: Last Blood, confirming that to be the franchise's title. This one has been in the works forever and has seen numerous plotlines (including a sci-fi based one) rumored, but the recent update from Splendid Films seemed to nail it a few months ago...

With 'Rambo V' Sylvester Stallone returns in his iconic role. This time he goes up against a Mexican cartel. Stallone, who has also written the screenplay, describes the new Rambo as his version of 'No Country for Old Men.' Like the last film, 'Rambo V' is produced by Avi Lerner ("The Expendables 1-3").

No word on if Stallone will also direct that one as some have guessed. We do know that it will be followed-up by the gangster flick, Scarpa, which Stallone will star in for director Brad Furman (The Lincoln Lawyer) and Goodfellas screenwriter Nick Pileggi. The film will center on mob hitman Gregory Scarpa, who claimed to have committed more than 50 murders for the Colombo crime family before turning FBI informant in 1980. He also supposedly had a hand in helping the FBI crack the Mississippi Burning case by locating the bodies of the slain civil rights activists. 

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Tessa Thompson gets in the Ring for 'Rocky' Spinoff 'Creed'

A spinoff of Rocky centering on the family of Apollo Creed almost sounds like some kind of joke pulled by The Onion, but it's a real thing and has some incredible talent behind it. Not only is it a reunion of Fruitvale Station director Ryan Coogler with star Michael B. Jordan, but the Italian Stallion himself, Sylvester Stallone, will also be a part of it. And now you can add Dear White People and Selma star Tessa Thompson to the list of reasons why Creed could be a knockout.

Thompson will take the female lead in the boxing drama, although it's unclear exactly what that entails. Doubtful she'll be lacing up the gloves, too. The film will follow the grandson of Apollo Creed, Rocky Balboa's former nemesis-turned-friend who was killed in the ring by Ivan Drago. The younger Creed has been living off the family name without using his natural talent to the fullest extent, but Balboa reluctantly agrees to be his trainer to help him go to the top.

 Thompson recently won a Gotham Award for her fiery performance in Dear White People, and has been nominated for a Black Reel Award and NAACP Image Award. Having her join the talented duo of Coogler and Jordan should be enough reason to start taking Creed seriously as a dramatic effort, rather than just some cash-grab exploiting the Rocky franchise. This isn't going to be Grudge Match (which Stallone was also part of), folks. [Deadline]

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