Carl Weathers criticized Sylvester Stallone's acting during his audition for Rocky — an insult which he says helped land him the role of Apollo Creed.
Now, nearly 40 years later, Weathers says the torch of the beloved franchise has been passed, and he couldn't be more proud.
"With this movie, I am close to it without being close to it at all," Weathers tells THR.
"I wanted to see what they did with it, and I was pleasantly surprised," says Weathers.
Recalling his audition for the first film, the actor says his start in the iconic franchise was not auspicious.
"There was nobody to read with, and they said you're going to read with the writer [Stallone]," Weather says, beginning to chuckle.
"Rocky has been knocked down and he gets back up, and Apollo Creed gives that look like, 'What the hell? »