Sylvester Stallone plotting a new 'Rocky' movie about a young immigrant

Sylvester Stallone may have recently complained about having 'zero ownership' of the Rocky movies, but he's still keen to get back into the gym.

In the same interview he conducted with Variety in which he discussed his equity in the franchise (or purported lack thereof), he also dropped in a brief mention of his future plans for the long-running boxing drama franchise.

And it will be topical.

“There’s a good chance that Rocky may ride again,” he said.

Asked what the premise would be, he adds: “Rocky meets a young, angry person who got stuck in this country when he comes to see his sister.

Read more: Stallone says he has ‘zero ownership’ in Rocky

“He takes him into his life, and unbelievable adventures begin, and they wind up south of the border. It’s very, very timely.”

Asked if the story would chime with the immigration controversies currently seen in the US, he went on: “Yes. Do you tell someone that you just met in the street who’s struggling and homeless to get out, or do you take him in? If you take him in, you’re in trouble.”

As for getting it made, he added that the studio 'want to go tomorrow'.

This would be a ninth movie in the Rocky series, the first making Stallone's name in Hollywood back in 1976, as the plucky slugger from Philadelphia who inexplicably gets a shot at the heavyweight world championship.

Stallone wrote the first movie, with John G. Avildsen directing, and then went on to write and direct Rocky II, Rocky III, and Rocky IV, with Avildsen returning to helm Rocky V in 1990.

Read more: “They would’ve cast a kangaroo in Rocky”

After a break, he made Rocky Balboa in 2006 (and was back behind the camera again), before formulating spin-off movies Creed and Creed II, with Michael B. Jordan as the son of Rocky's old friend and former rival Apollo Creed, who was killed in the ring in Rocky IV.

In all, the movies have made over $1.6 billion at the box office, but Stallone has griped that he was ‘furious’ that he has 'zero ownership' of the franchise, having handed over the rights to get the first movie made.

Though one source told Variety: “He made money from every angle, and still does, so I don’t know what he’s complaining about.”