Roy Jones Jr. May Play Rocky Balboa

[Jaimoe]

Well, his career as a real fighter is over, and has been for a year or two.

From Moviehole.com

Roy Jones Jr in talks for Rocky Balboa

According to Variety, the much-discussed sixth instalment of "Rocky" - which, as revealed last week, Sylvester Stallone will write, direct and star in - is courting former heavyweight champion Roy Jones Jr to co-star.

Jones Jr would play heavyweight champ Mason "The Line" Dixon, opposite Stallone's Rocky Balboa, and Burt Young's 'Paulie'.

According to the trade, "Rocky Balboa" (yep, that's the title) will be co-produced and co-financed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Columbia Pictures and Revolution Studios and will be distributed by Columbia Pictures.

Stallone has been trying to make a sixth movie for years and has spent time reworking a script. The latest version, which sources said is similar to tone and grit to the first two movies, persuaded the studios to negotiate a deal. In the new installment, Rocky, lonely and retired in Philadelphia, is approached to fight a match with reigning heavyweight champ Mason "The Line" Dixon, and soon his comeback ignites a media firestorm.

Shooting is scheduled to begin in December in Los Angeles and Philadelphia.

"We'll try to capture the essence of the first couple of films," Stallone told the trade. "[in the film] There's a computer fight between the reigning world champion and Balboa, and Balboa wins. The champion's management says let's do this for real, for charity. Rocky says no but decides to be true to himself even though he's going to be berated by everyone. Just to compete, not to win."

Charles Winkler, William Chartoff, David Winkler and Kevin King are producing. Robert Chartoff and Irwin WinklerIrwin Winkler, who produced the previous "Rocky" pics, are aboard as exec producers. Bill Conti, who wrote the original "Rocky" score, returns as well.

The film has taken quite a while to get off the ground, says Sly. "You had the studio difficulty, two studios in transition, then there was a reluctance to go forward until everyone felt there was a script that ecfemaled the kind of sincerity and values the first one had, and had some poignancy like the first one had."

Stallone said Joe Roth was instrumental in bringing the project together. He "worked very closely with Irwin Winkler and Bob Chartoff and was instrumental in just putting all the pieces together."

He added that Rocky's arc has been autobiographical for him over the years, and this is no exception.

"I am drawing on a lot of my feelings that are in synch with many people's feelings about facing the last chapter of their lives and how they want it to be written. Rocky goes through the skepticism of trying to go against the tide, to go against common sense."

He also said the business had changed quite a bit in the 30 years since the first "Rocky."

"In the '70s and '80s, you could change start dates and be flippant about commitment. You can't do that anymore. It's very, very precise; it's run as a strict business now. And I like it. There's no illusion anymore. It's not a dream factory now, it's a real factory. In a good way."

[SevenSeasJim]

Stallone has been trying to make a sixth movie for years and has spent time reworking a script.

How much can you rework a Rocky script?

[Jaimoe]

Rocky movies are like old fighters: They just don't know when to call it quits.

[SevenSeasJim]

Rocky movies are like old fighters: They just don't know when to call it quits.

There, you just described the script.

[TheSloth]

I'm pretty sure I heard that Rocky VII is going to be about his fight with prostate cancer.

[Jaimoe]

I'd love to see Sly fight his hack-actor/singer brother Frank.