Franchise Detours

After Rocky Balboa restored the franchise to its former glory — winning back fans and critics who were left cold after Rocky V — it really had seemed like this time the world had seen the last of Sylvester Stallone's iconic character. But that was before director Ryan Coogler got involved.

Coogler is now best known for the cultural phenomenon that was Black Panther, but he had made only one feature film when he stepped into the director's chair for 2015's Creed. Moreover, the film was to star frequent Coogler's Fruitvale Station star Michael B. Jordan, coming off of Fant4stic, opposite Stallone's seventh round as the retired champ himself.

The Lady-Wan of Screen Run joins Franchise Detours to discuss how its director and star went the distance with 2015's Creed . We'll discuss how the film honors the previous Rocky films, why it needs to earn its place within the beloved franchise, and whether it's the best legacy sequel ever made.

While the story started by Rocky had seemingly come to a close, Sylvester Stallone's dissatisfaction with the fifth film — and perhaps the declining state of his own career — led him to consider bringing his signature character back for just one more fight. And thus, he returned to write, direct and star in Rocky Balboa, released 30 years after the first film.

Film critic Phoenix Clouden joins us to discuss 2006's Rocky Balboa, the film which defied the odds to earn critical acclaim and box office success. We'll discuss how the film handles the absence of Talia Shire's Adrian, why it feels like a necessary project for both Rocky and Stallone alike, and where it feels the door open for the character's return nearly a decade later in Creed.

We'll also delve into the film’s thematic elements, such as aging and legacy. Serving as both a conclusion to Rocky's story and a fresh entry point for a new generation, we'll discuss how Rocky Balboa encapsulates the film’s message of perseverance. Join us for an engaging discussion celebrating the enduring spirit of one of cinema’s most beloved characters.

With Rocky IV taking the franchise to new commercial heights, the film represented, in some ways, the biggest victory yet for both writer/director/star Sylvester Stallone and his fictional counterpart. However, that success — which saw the scale of the franchise expand to international levels — might have set unfair expectations for the future.

Enter Rocky V. On one hand, the return of the original film's director, John G. Avildsen, signaled a return to Rocky's roots as an underdog, as the champ finds himself back in the neighborhood and searching for relevance. But audiences and critics at the time didn't appreciate this seemingly more downbeat approach, perhaps sensing the magic of the series was missing.

Pete of Middle Class Film Class joins us to discuss what was once intended as the finale of the Rocky series, 1990's Rocky V. We'll discuss whether the film deserves its lackluster reputation, how it inadvertently sets up subsequent movies, and why the surprise addition of one cast member carries so much weight. So lace up those gloves and join our discussion.

If Rocky III marks the promise of how the franchise could grow beyond the championship belt, then the next film arguably shows its limitations. With star Sylvester Stallone again serving as writer and director, Rocky IV sees the iconic cinematic hero facing his most devastating blow yet, sending him all the way to Russia to represent his country on a quest for vengeance.

Ryan Luis Rodriguez of One Track Mind joins us to discuss 1985's Rocky IV, a film that remains the biggest worldwide box office hit in the Rocky/Creed franchise. We'll discuss why the film is the most dated installment of the series, how it underutilizes one of its most charismatic stars, and the 2021 release of Stallone's Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago – The Ultimate Director's Cut.

Although Rocky IV has more than its share of defenders, this is often the point where many film franchises start to falter. With an established storytelling formula and a generally intimate focus on a handful of main characters, how does Rocky IV manage to keep the title character in the cinematic ring? And where does it key up the 1990 flop that was Rocky V?

Rocky (and, by extension, Rocky II) tells one of the greatest underdog stories in cinema history. But with audiences clamoring for more of "The Italian Stallion," how could writer/director/star Sylvester Stallone build upon Rocky Balboa's story after he has achieved the ultimate goal of claiming the heavyweight championship? The answer lies in the characters themselves.

With 1982's Rocky III, Stallone ups the personal stakes for the titular hero, while also continuing to follow how the relationships between the core characters evolve. Buoyed by appearances from professional wrestler Hulk Hogan and Mr. T as Rocky's nemesis, Clubber Lang, as well as a hot soundtrack, the movie perhaps marks the series' biggest success to date.

Writer Jeannette Miller joins us to discuss how Rocky III continues the series' character-focused storytelling. We'll discuss why it switches up the structure of its predecessors, how it mirrors Stallone's own life and career, and which character relationship might be the series' best. So start pumping Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" and get ready to enter the ring once again.

Even decades after its release, 1976's Rocky stands as the ultimate cinematic underdog story. But following its critical acclaim, box office performance, and awards wins, it's only natural that everything involved — including star and screenwriter Sylvester Stallone — would explore what happened next in the lives of Rocky, Adrian, Paulie, Mickey, and of course, Apollo.

Darin Lundberg of NostalgiaCast and Back To Bluey joins us to talk about how 1979's Rocky II expands on the original film. We'll discuss whether the movie undercuts its predecessor with a Rocky and Apollo rematch, how the movie cements Stallone as the primary creative force of the franchise, and whether the film successfully justifies Rocky's return to the sport.

Join us as we step back into the ring with Rocky and his crew for a sequel that dares to push boundaries. With Rocky II, Stallone sharpens the stakes to focus on the theme of redemption and hones in on the emotional journeys of both Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed. It's a can't-miss entry in a franchise that still has so much more ground left to cover.

Long before Franchise Detours began, the Rocky/Creed series was well on our radar. Following the Crooked Table Podcast's (now Close Watch) monthly coverage of the Star Wars and Harry Potter films, "The Italian Stallion" was eyed as the next long-running, beloved series to take the spotlight. Alas, plans changed, and we didn't enter the ring until now.

At last, we tackle the 1976 classic that is Rocky. One of only four franchise films to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, the film—directed by John G. Avildsen (The Karate Kid)—introduced Sylvester Stallone's leading-man status and has left an indelible mark on the industry in the nearly five decades since it first hit the big screen.

Lauren Knight from That Movie Is Fine joins us to chat about the enduring legacy of Rocky. We'll discuss how its themes still resonate today, why Stallone needed to write his own star-making project, and how the film lays the groundwork for what has become a decades-long character study. More about people than boxing, Rocky is so much more than a sports movie.

Join us to discover why Rocky still justifies the cultural phenomenon it created. We bet you'll be jogging up the nearest staircase in no time.

Six years and one major studio acquisition later, Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool finally joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But after Deadpool seemingly shattered the superhero movie formula and Deadpool 2 doubled-down on the scale of the Merc with the Mouth's particular corner of the universe, where could "Deadpool 3" go to keep upping the ante? In a word, *SNIKT*.

After years of development, it was the addition of Hugh Jackman's Wolverine that finally helped Reynolds and director Shawn Levy (Free Guy, Real Steel) crack the code that ultimately led to the first Marvel Studios' billion-dollar grosser since the similarly multiverse-centric Spider-Man: No Way Home. But does this third entry confirm Deadpool as Marvel Jesus?

Chauncey Telese of LA Podfidential joins us to discuss Deadpool & Wolverine as it continues its rampage through theaters. We'll chat about how the franchise makes the shift to the MCU, whether those surprise characters add or distract from the story at hand, and where the film's conclusion leaves the title characters amid the upcoming MCU slate.

Despite its crass humor and ultraviolence, 2016's Deadpool professed itself to be a self-described "love story." Likewise, its even more over-the-top sequel fancies itself a "family film." With a budget roughly twice that of its predecessor, Ryan Reynolds' second turn in the iconic red suit was a similar box office hit, expanding the first film's themes and taking bigger chances.

As the road to Deadpool & Wolverine continues, Matthew Anderson of The Lone Screenplay Nominee Podcast joins us to dig into 2018's Deadpool 2. We'll discuss what the direction of franchise newcomer David Leitch (John Wick, Atomic Blonde) brings to the series, how the film doubles-down on its R rating, and why it could perfectly lead into the character's MCU debut.

So join us as Deadpool crosses paths with the likes of Josh Brolin's Cable and Zazie Beetz' Domino, has his first brush with time travel and how the Deadpool franchise comments and complements the mainline X-Men films. Also, keep an eye on the Crooked Table Patreon for a bonus episode on the movie's PG-13 cut, theatrically released as Once Upon a Deadpool!

Deadpool. That sounds like a f**king franchise. Right? After the character's big-screen debut (kinda) in 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, it sure didn't seem that way. Ryan Reynolds' take on Marvel Comics' fourth wall-breaking quasi-superhero Wade Wilson aka Deadpool seemed like it had its one shot. Then some leaked footage later, the Merc with the Mouth got a new life.

Following our X-Men mega-series from 2023, we return to the world of Marvel's mutants with a mega-series all about what will soon be the Deadpool trilogy. Of course, we'll kick it off this episode with the film that started it all, from first-time director Tim Miller. Listen as Jeff Johnson and Kev Smith of Suns and Shadows join us to touch all over 2016's Deadpool.

We'll discuss why the film pushed the boundaries of the superhero genre, how its meta-commentary has aged, and why it is perhaps exactly what Marvel and the X-Men films needed. We'll also chat in-depth about Reynolds, who championed the project and has leveraged the success of Deadpool to propel his career in Hollywood to new heights.

Beneath its snark and violence, there’s also real heart in Deadpool. Wade’s romance with Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) adds emotional depth. And in this episode, we'll uncover that Deadpool is, really and truly, a love story. So whether you’re a die-hard Marvel fan or recently caught up with Deadpool ahead of the upcoming release of the third film, cue the music and enjoy!