Sly on the move: Rocky Balboa strikes again.

Sly on the move: Rocky Balboa strikes again.

Action heroes are here to stay. Come Thanksgiving 2006 and Sylvester Stallone will star once again in his motion picture “Rocky Balboa”, where the protagonist Rocky will jump back in the fray, alighting movie screens and fans hearts yet again.

This will be the sixth movie on the character of Rocky, and this time around, his difference will be in the message he speaks. Though a through and through boxing movie, the underlying causes will speak of personal growth, choice and philosophy.

The movie will be co-produced by MGM, Revolution Studios and Columbia Pictures. Philadelphia and Las Vegas will host the shooting and that will be sometime in December. Sylvester will write and direct, like he did two of the predecessors.

Incidentally, this is the first film under MGM to be given the word go.

For those who came in late, SYLVESTER STALLONE shot to fame with 'Rocky' in 1976, where he played the boxer in Philadelphia who wins and loses, to win again in love. The picture was a huge success and raked in moolah to the tune of $US117 million, apart from winning the Oscars in the top categories of best direction, best editing and best film. Sly was nominated for best actor too.

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The "Rocky" movies have collectively earned $495 million in America and though Rocky V didn't do very well, the sixth loop in the chain is expected to create waves of nostalgia across the nation.

From humble beginnings in New York and Philadelphia, where he did his schooling, Sly has traversed a long journey before he established his credentials as an actor, writer, producer and director. Stallone abandoned school before his degree to fulfill his dream of being an actor. An arduous struggle ensued but he persevered, in the meantime, fuelling his passion to write.

He created Rocky Balboa in these troubled times. This character proved to be his messiah, as various producers sought his script and planned star castings for the screenplay. But Sylvester wanted to play the part himself and after a long persistence, he broke ice finally and the rest they say is history.

Stallone wrote, directed and acted in "Rocky II" and "Paradise Alley." He also wrote and acted in "F.I.S. T.," "First Blood", "Rambo: First Blood, Part II", "Rhinestone" and "Rambo III". He turned and producer with "Staying Alive" which he also wrote partly and directed. Some of his other movies are "Nighthawks", "Victory", "Tango & Cash" and "Lock Up" and "Rocky V

The sixth Rocky picture shows the character as a loner and living with memories. He has lost his love Adrian and accepts to fight Mason Dixon, the current heavyweight champ, but for charity and to satiate his yearning for the ring. Sly says he is trying to rope in the real former heavyweight champion Roy Jones Jr. to play Dixon. The role of Talia Shire, who played Adrian in the earlier movies, is yet to be firmed up, as a flashback cameo. However, Adrian's brother Paulie will be played by Burt Young again.

Sylvester Stallone told one of the publications, "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," Its about being part of the mainstream, and not being a passive onlooker to life, is what is Sly's concept this time.

Dan Taylor, MGM's top person, thinks the Rocky fan club is massive, and even as the veterans are dying to meet Rocky again, generation next is waiting to know him.

Sylvester Stallone recently received the Taurus Lifetime Achievement Award for an Action Star at the 5th Annual Taurus World Stunt Awards. He was described as “a dynamic driving force in action films creating some extremely memorable characters and moments," by TWSA Executive Producer, Mitch Geller.