Sylvester Stallone is no longer a fan of Paulie’s robot in Rocky IV and in the 35th Anniversary Director’s Cut of the film that he’s working on, he’s cutting the robot out and throwing him in the trash. Stallone said in an Instagram post:
“For the 35th anniversary Rocky 4 Is getting a new DIRECTORS cut by me. So far it looks great. Soulful. Thank you MGM For this opportunity to entertain.”
Then when one fan asked whether this new version would “expand on the relationship between Paulie and his robot,” Stallone was very clear in what his intentions are for the robot, saying:
“The Robot is going to the junkyard forever. No more robot.”
When a fan replied pleading not to the remove the robot, Stallone simply said:
“I don’t like the robot anymore.”
The robot, whose name was Sico, was originally created as a way to help assist kids with autism. Stallone called up the creator of the robot, Robert Doornick, after he appeared on a talk show to discuss Sico and its purpose. Stallone asked if it could work with his autistic son Seargeoh on set and Stallone loved the robot so much that he ended up working it into Rocky IV as well.
As you might expect, fans of the film aren’t happy with Stallone cutting out the robot because a lot of fans love the robot! I’ve included some of the things people are saying online below.
If Stallone is over the robot and wants it out of the film in the Director’s Cut, that’s his choice. If you’re a fan of the robot, it’s always going to be in the original cut! The robot will live on in the original cut of Rock IV forever, so it’s not really a big deal. What do you think?
Can you even call it Rocky IV if it doesn’t even include Paulie’s robot…I mean the robot literally the best part of the whole film. pic.twitter.com/6Sdvy5pJ8n
— Julian : into the Julian-Verse | BLM (@cooljulian5) August 30, 2020
This is unacceptable. Today, I am calling upon Sylvester Stallone to #ReleaseThePauliesRobotCut. https://t.co/RSh72ns1Tu
— Matt Singer (@mattsinger) August 30, 2020
The only acceptable outcome here is MORE robot. Like she shows up in Russia with Adrian because she can’t be without Paulie and wants to support him.
— Steve Asbell (@steveasbell) August 31, 2020
I am an unabashed fan of the cinematic saga of the Italian Stallion.
But why in the world do we need a director’s cut of ROCKY IV? Especially if he’s going to get rid of Paulie’s robot?!
— Bryan Tuck (@BCarterTuck) August 31, 2020
Ok you can take Paulie’s robot out of rocky IV but only if you put it into Rambo III
— Panic! For The Sega CD (@32mbit) August 31, 2020
I think we can all relate to Sly in that we all have a ROCKY IV robot in our past. But that’s not how life works, Sly. You carry the robot with you, always. pic.twitter.com/GzXtcBevy8
— Phil Nobile Jr. (@PhilNobileJr) August 30, 2020