The Making of Rocky IV: Tensions on Set and Stallone’s Fight with Lundgren
In 1985, the world was introduced to the ultimate underdog story in the form of Rocky IV. The film saw Sylvester Stallone’s iconic character, Rocky Balboa, face off against the towering Soviet boxer, Ivan Drago, played by Dolph Lundgren. The film went on to become a huge success, but the making of the movie was not without its own drama.
According to reports from the time, Stallone and Lundgren had a tumultuous relationship on set, with tensions reportedly boiling over during the filming of the climactic boxing match scene. It has been reported that Stallone, who was not only the star but also the writer and director of the film, was so committed to creating an authentic and intense fight scene that he instructed Lundgren to actually hit him during the filming of the scene.
Lundgren, who was relatively new to the film industry at the time, was reportedly nervous about hitting Stallone, who was a seasoned actor and had been playing the character of Rocky for years. Despite his reservations, Lundgren followed Stallone’s instructions and delivered a powerful blow to Stallone’s chest. The impact reportedly sent Stallone flying backwards, and he had to be rushed to Hospital.
While Stallone’s injuries were not serious, the incident reportedly left Lundgren shaken and upset. According to reports, Stallone then proceeded to berate Lundgren, telling him that he had almost killed him and that he was a terrible actor. Lundgren was said to have been reduced to tears by the incident.
However, Lundgren has since spoken about the incident and claimed that it was blown out of proportion. In a 2018 interview with The Guardian, Lundgren said that while Stallone did push him hard during the making of the film, the two actors had a good working relationship and that Stallone was simply trying to create an authentic and compelling film.
Despite the reported tensions on set, Rocky IV went on to become one of the most successful films in the franchise, grossing over $300 million at the box office. The film’s success can be attributed in part to its intense and emotionally charged boxing scenes, which were created with the help of real-life boxing legends such as Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.
In recent years, both Stallone and Lundgren have spoken fondly of their time working together on the film. In a 2018 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Stallone praised Lundgren’s performance, saying that the actor had brought a real sense of danger to the character of Ivan Drago. Lundgren, for his part, has said that working on the film was a formative experience for him as an actor and that he is grateful for the opportunity.
In conclusion, the making of Rocky IV was not without its own drama, with reports of tension between Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren on set. The incident where Stallone was reportedly reduced to tears by Stallone was just one example of the intense pressure and commitment that both actors brought to the making of the film. Despite the reported tensions, Rocky IV went on to become a hugely successful film, and both Stallone and Lundgren have since spoken fondly of their time working together on the project.
