Sly Stallone Officially Pronounces Rocky and Rambo Dead

This has probably been promised before, but come on. This is a Sylvester Stallone promise we're talking about here, casually dropped while promoting The Expendables, so anything goes. That said, considering he already has Expendables 2 in mind, and he is 64 years old, maybe he means it: You have seen the last of Rocky Balboa and John Rambo.

More dramatic still, Stallone made the announcement to his fans via Time Magazine, and God knows you can't lie to your fans, unless marketing The Expendables as inspired and/or good counts as lying:

Is there a chance in hell you will ever write, direct and star in another Rocky movie? --Kelly Doerfler, CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PA.

The last Rocky took 19 years to get off the ground, and it was quite a challenge. It'd be interesting to do a Frank Capra-esque one, where Rocky runs for mayor: a simple blue-collar guy goes all the way. But I learned in Rocky V that you really can't tamper with that formula. When he's outside the ring, that's another character. You've seen the end of Rocky. I'm really happy with the way he rode off into the sunset. [...]

What made you not want to follow through with Rambo 5? --Alfonso Pinto, WHITTIER, CALIF.

It would be very inappropriate at my age to have Rambo disappearing into the woods. Where's he going to go? When does he stop running -- when he's 90? He can't run anymore. Why? Because he can't get his walker up the hill!

Finally! Rhinestone 2, here we come!

· 10 Questions for Sylvester Stallone [Time]