Editing Rocky III (section)

==Production==
===Development===
Following the success of ''Rocky II'', Sylvester Stallone began developing a third installment in the ''[[Rocky (franchise)|Rocky]]'' [[Rocky (franchise)|franchise]] that would explore the challenges of fame and complacency. The narrative arc was designed to show Rocky Balboa no longer as the underdog, but as a world champion dealing with the psychological and physical consequences of success. Stallone returned as writer and director, aiming to bring a more stylized and commercially dynamic tone to the series.<ref>{{Cite web |last=mightymicksgym |date=2024-12-12 |title=Making of Rocky 3 {{!}} Behind the Scenes on the Movie |url=https://totalrocky.com/articles/r3/rocky-3-behind-the-scenes/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Total Rocky |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Casting ===
For the role of Clubber Lang, two world-class [[heavyweight]] boxers—[[Joe Frazier]] and [[Earnie Shavers]]—were initially considered. Both matched Stallone in height and physique, but were ultimately rejected due to vocal concerns: Frazier reportedly had a [[Stuttering|stutter]], and Shavers had a high-pitched voice deemed unsuitable for the character's menacing persona. Casting director Rhonda Young discovered Mr. T on NBC's [[Games People Play (1980 TV series)|''America's Toughest Bouncer'']], a program that showcased his physicality and charisma. She contacted producer [[Don Ohlmeyer]] about "the man with the [[Mohawk hairstyle|mohawk]]", and Mr. T was subsequently cast. His presence and performance in screen tests secured the role, marking his [[Breakthrough role|breakout]] in film.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 December 2013 |title=Mr. T biography (1999) [starting from 08:40] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8uSM2YQoTA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128193351/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8uSM2YQoTA |archive-date=2020-11-28 |access-date=2020-08-25 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

=== Filming ===
To portray a leaner and more defined version of Rocky Balboa, Stallone adopted an extreme physical regimen. He claimed to have reduced his [[body fat percentage]] to 2.6% and brought his weight down to about 155 pounds (70 kg). His strict diet consisted primarily of 10 egg whites and a piece of toast daily, with fruit only every third day. His training schedule included a morning [[Jogging|jog]], two hours of [[weightlifting]], 18 rounds of [[sparring]], an additional weight session in the afternoon, and swimming in the evening.<ref>Muscle &#x26; Fitness, Sept, 2004 by Michael Berg</ref>