ROTTEN TOMATOES: Talia Shire Responds to Adrian's Absence in "Rocky Balboa"

Talia Shire Responds to Adrian's Absence in "Rocky Balboa"

by Scott Weinberg | December 28, 2006

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Like most "Rocky" fans, I found myself wondering why Talia Shire didn't pop up in "Rocky Balboa." Did Sylvester Stallone simply want the character ... gone, or was the actress simply unwilling to return for a fifth sequel? Well, USA Today has the answer.

"In the original script (for "Rocky Balboa"), she was alive," reveals Stallone, 60. "But it just didn't have the same dramatic punch. I thought, 'What if she's gone?' That would cut Rocky's heart out and drop him down to ground zero." (From USA Today)

And then we get a few Q&A moments with Ms. Shire herself:

"I was aware of the possibility of Adrian (at one point) being in it and dying (on screen), but my being in the movie or not was not as interesting as how Sylvester was going to achieve this. Ultimately, I was wondering how in the world he was going to justify getting Rocky back into the ring."

Click here for the full interview.

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(1-8 of 8 posts) | Reply

Horstradamus writes:
on Dec 28 2006 05:20 PM

[b]Nice interview[/b]
Talia Shire is being very classy and professional about the whole situation. Personally, I thought her role in Rocky V was too over the top when compared with how demur she was in Rocky I. Good choice by Sly in letting her go in Balboa.

(Reply to this)

dylan21484nj writes:
on Dec 28 2006 05:27 PM

as much as people might miss Adrian, her role of "You can't do it, Rocky!/Alright, go for it, Rocky!" got very repetitive. something had to be done to break the chain of repetition so Rocky Balboa wouldn't be "just another Rocky movie." her absence is for the best.

(Reply to this)

RandoCommando writes:
on Dec 28 2006 06:32 PM

In reply to this comment (#851853)
[b]well...[/b]
Rocky Jr. sort of assumed that role in this one, didn't he?

(Reply to this)

dylan21484nj writes:
on Dec 28 2006 10:27 PM

In reply to this comment (#851854)
true, but it was more out of his own selfishness than any fear for Rocky's health. besides, do we really need two of the same kind of character in the same movie?

(Reply to this)

TheIceGhost writes:
on Dec 29 2006 12:42 AM

Adrian's absense was odd at first, but yeah, I don't see how Stallone could have justified Rocky's return (to the ring) any other way. Even if she had died in the movie, he wouldn't say something like, "ADRIIIAAANNN....I'll get back in the ring one more time for you!!" Doesn't really make sense; he'd be mouring his wife not thinking about boxing. Having him yearn for the past through Adrian's death (in which he's had proper time to at least somewhat grieve), then highten his curiosity of gettin' in the ring again because of his yearning for the past, more sensible.

It wasn't the best of the Rocky movies, but certainly not the worst either. If it was nothing else, Rocky Balboa was a great send off to an awesome character.

(Reply to this)

BuckRogers writes:
on Dec 29 2006 07:23 AM

In all the Rocky movies Adrian was as you would expect concerned for Rocky's welfare, but the bitching and moaning become tiresome towards r4 & r5. I'm glad Sly did what he had to do. If she was in this film, she would be having heart failure this time around if Rocky told her "He still has something left in the basement".

(Reply to this)

sexysteph25 writes:
on Mar 24 2007 07:27 PM

[b]Rocky[/b]
I am a huge fan of Rocky and always will be!!!!! After watching Rocky Balboa, I feel that it was better then Rocky V. It was a great comeback for him to come into the ring...I was kinda upset that Talia Shire hadn't played her role as Adrian...That was depressing to see the flashbacks...But I see Sly's way of getting Rocky back into the Ring for one last reason to get the "Stuff out of the basement" I Hope that the people love Rocky Balboa enough, BC I WANT A ROCKY SEVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Reply to this)

MadmanCody writes:
on Mar 26 2007 06:17 PM

i think stalone is smart enough to NOT do that...

(Reply to this)