Rocky II · The Rewatchables ·December 2, 2025 Rocky II Casting What-Ifs Chuck Wepner’s proposed trainer role In the discussion (1) Approx. transcript time · 01:19:49Read transcript The real-life boxer who inspired Rocky was reportedly offered a trainer role later removed from the screenplay. — Bill Simmons
Rocky II · The Rewatchables ·December 2, 2025 Rocky II The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award Frank McRae In the discussion (1) Approx. transcript time · 01:20:04Read transcript Frank McCray wins over Joe Spinell.
Rocky II · The Rewatchables ·December 2, 2025 Rocky II The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance Brent Musburger In the discussion (5) Approx. transcript time · 01:20:19Read transcript Brent Musburger is selected for making the fight feel like a nationally important sporting event. Frank Stallone and the doo-wop group are nominated. — Bill Simmons Rocky’s commercial agent is nominated for slinking away after the advertisement fails. — Bill Simmons Stu Nahan is nominated. — Bill Simmons Duke is considered, then challenged as ineligible because he is in four films. — Bill Simmons
Rocky II · The Rewatchables ·December 2, 2025 Rocky II Recasting Couch Chris Ryan as the commercial director; Al Pacino as backup In the discussion (1) Approx. transcript time · 01:22:13Read transcript Chris Ryan is proposed as the commercial director, with Al Pacino as the backup. — Bill Simmons
Rocky II · The Rewatchables ·December 2, 2025 Rocky II Half-Assed Internet Research The dedication, Leroy Neiman, Rocky’s reading, running-scene extras, room 669, the novelization, and Burt Young’s weight loss; Paulie speculation In the discussion (9) Approx. transcript time · 01:25:19Read transcript The film is dedicated to Stallone’s first agent, Jane Oliver. — Bill Simmons Leroy Neiman appears drawing Apollo during training. — Bill Simmons Rocky reads The Deputy Sheriff of Comanche County by Edgar Rice Burroughs to Adrian. An estimated 800 schoolchildren were used for the running scene. — Bill Simmons Adrian’s hospital room is numbered 669, described as an angel number. — Bill Simmons A 1979 Rocky II novel credited to Stallone uses Rocky’s first-person narration and shifts to third person for Apollo. — Chris Ryan Burt Young’s weight loss between films was disguised for the hospital scene and acknowledged in dialogue. Paulie’s changing status and dependence on Rocky are discussed. The group speculates that Paulie may be in love with Rocky. — Van Lathan
Rocky II · The Rewatchables ·December 2, 2025 Rocky II Apex Mountain No affirmative selection In the discussion (5) Approx. transcript time · 01:29:02Read transcript Stallone is rejected here in favor of his mid-1980s Rocky IV and Rambo period. Bert Young’s mid-1980s run is considered. Brent Musburger’s peak is debated. — Van Lathan The Philadelphia Zoo tiger is nominated as being at its peak. — Bill Simmons The eleven-minute coma is proposed as a peak for overlong coma scenes.
Rocky II · The Rewatchables ·December 2, 2025 Rocky II Cruise or Hanks? Cruise as Rocky In the discussion (1) Approx. transcript time · 01:33:40Read transcript Cruise is selected to play Rocky because Hanks is not plausible as a boxer. — Van Lathan
Rocky II · The Rewatchables ·December 2, 2025 Rocky II Scorsese or Spielberg? Scorsese In the discussion (2) Approx. transcript time · 01:33:51Read transcript Scorsese is selected. — Van Lathan Spielberg’s version is imagined as an expansive morality tale. — Van Lathan
Rocky II · The Rewatchables ·December 2, 2025 Rocky II What role would Philip Seymour Hoffman play? Mickey, Paulie, and the commercial director In the discussion (3) Approx. transcript time · 01:34:00Read transcript Mickey is proposed. Paulie is proposed. — Chris Ryan The commercial director is proposed. — Chris Ryan
Rocky II · The Rewatchables ·December 2, 2025 Rocky II Picking Nits Rocky’s post-fight prospects, boxing rules and defense, chicken training, and Adrian’s tubeless coma In the discussion (6) Approx. transcript time · 01:34:10Read transcript Rocky should receive far more commercial and media opportunities after the first Apollo fight. Apollo’s six-month layoff is questioned against the era’s frequent heavyweight schedules. Chicken chasing is criticized as a poor training method. — Bill Simmons The film’s double-knockdown rule is inaccurate because both fighters could continue if they beat the count. Apollo absorbs implausibly many undefended body shots. Adrian’s coma is shown without tubes, food, water, or other support. — Bill Simmons
Rocky II · The Rewatchables ·December 2, 2025 Rocky II Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake A reported prestige television project in the Creed world In the discussion (2) Approx. transcript time · 01:39:50Read transcript The group says sequel, prequel, and all-Black continuation ideas have already been done. — Bill Simmons A reported television project set in the Creed world is discussed as the prestige-TV route. — Van Lathan
Rocky II · The Rewatchables ·December 2, 2025 Rocky II Is This Movie Better With…? The rotating-commentator premise includes Al Michaels calling the double knockdown. In the discussion (1) Approx. transcript time · 01:41:30Read transcript Al Michaels is proposed to call the double knockdown, but the imagined call needs more excitement.