Stallone's "Rocky" Origin is a Studio Myth

[snopes]

As the legend goes, "Rocky" originated when unemployed actor Sylvester Stallone walked into the United Artists movie studio to sell his brilliant screenplay about an underdog boxer; and then refused to make any deal unless he could also star.

However, that tale is a near-total fabrication made up by United Artists’ public relations department, according to the producers and key studio executives — and dutifully sold to the eager media and public by Stallone himself.

http://www.rushprnews.com:80/press/archives/123934

Reminds me of the story of a hopeful director named George Lucas who submitted his script to Universal Studio who rejected saying the story was weak and uninteresting,then George Lucas went to see Fox studio and went on to create an icon in the world of movies

[diddy]

Originally Posted by Malalaise

Reminds me of the story of a hopeful director named George Lucas who submitted his script to Universal Studio who rejected saying the story was weak and uninteresting,then George Lucas went to see Fox studio and went on to create an icon in the world of movies

According to Lucas, Universal had first dibs to the project (an agreement that went along with American Grafitti), they turned him down, then Lucas went with Fox who almost turned him down if not for Alan Ladd Jr. who liked Star Wars and who had to convince the Fox execs not to can the project as it started to get over budget (they wanted it to be done under 10 million, Lucas wanted 13 million) and overdue.

[STF]

Originally Posted by diddy

According to Lucas, Universal had first dibs to the project (an agreement that went along with American Grafitti), they turned him down, then Lucas went with Fox who almost turned him down if not for Alan Ladd Jr. who liked Star Wars and who had to convince the Fox execs not to can the project as it started to get over budget (they wanted it to be done under 10 million, Lucas wanted 13 million) and overdue.

It's funny watching Empire of Dreams and hearing Ladd Jr. talk about trying to hold off the other execs in order to let Lucas finish Star Wars.