Sylvester Stallone blasts 'parasites' for possible Drago spinoff

In since-deleted Instagram posts, actor-filmmaker Sylvester Stallone on Saturday angrily decried news that the rights-holders of the "Rocky" franchise are planning a sequel starring Dolph Lundgren as his "Rocky IV" character, Russian boxer Ivan Drago.

In the first of two posts, transcribed by outlets including TheWrap.com, which first reported the sequel, the 76-year-old Stallone wrote of the films' longtime producer, "ONCE AGAIN, IRWIN WINKLER, this PATHETIC 94 year old PRODUCER and HIS MORONIC VULTURE CHILDREN, Charles And David, are once again picking clean THE BONES of another wonderful character I created without even telling me."

He added, "I APOLOGIZE to the FANS, I never wanted ROCKY characters to be exploited by these parasites. By the way, I once had nothing but respect for Dolph but he NEVER told me about what was going on behind my back with the character I created for him!!! REAL FRIENDS Are more precious than gold."

Stallone later toned down the post with a slight edit.

In a second deleted post, according to multiple transcriptions, Stallone likened Winkler and his sons to vampires, writing, "RETURN MY RIGHTS BLOODSUCKERS!"

The post also said, "Throughout history so many artists in every industry, recording, painting writing, you name it have been destroyed by these blood suckers Who have destroyed so many families, lining their pockets with other people! DOLPH, why? Not a phone call? #parasite producers #exploited artists victims."

In a tweet still online Monday afternoon, Stallone said, "I'd like to congratulate Irwin Winkler and family beating another wonderful character into the ground! # no shame."

Winkler, who is 91, is a producer or an executive producer on each of the six original "Rocky" films, from 1976's best-picture Oscar winner through "Rocky Balboa" (2006), and the follow-ups "Creed" (2015), "Creed II" (2018) and next year's "Creed III." The latter three films star Michael B. Jordan as boxer Adonis Creed, the son of boxer Apollo Creed, whom Drago had killed in the ring decades earlier. Stallone wrote the first six "Rocky" films and directed four of them.

Lundgren, 64, responded on Instagram Sunday, writing, "Just to set the record straight regarding a possible Drago spinoff. There's no approved script, no deals in place, no director and I was personally under the impression that my friend Sly Stallone was involved as a producer or even as an actor. There was a press leak last week which was unfortunate. In touch with Mr Balboa — just so all the fans can relax … There ya go."

Winkler's representative did not respond to a Newsday request for comment.