Over the past handful of years, Thom Zimny has emerged as one of the most prolific music documentarians around. A former editor on The Wire, Zimny won an Emmy for directing the Netflix film Springsteen on Broadway, reunited with Bruce for Letter to You, chronicled the life of Elvis Presley in Elvis Presley: The Searcher, explored The Man in Black in The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash, and helmed the docuseries Willie Nelson and Family, which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. So, it might seem odd that he’s decided to explore the life and career of Sylvester Stallone in the upcoming doc Sly, premiering Nov. 3 on Netflix.
But not according to Zimny.
“I couldn’t help but notice a strong work ethic, an unwavering passion, and a deep connection to the art of filmmaking — the craft of storytelling,” Zimny tells Rolling Stone of meeting with Stallone. “It evoked memories of my past work with artists such as Elvis in the realm of music and Johnny Cash in the world of gospel. In Stallone’s case, cinema was an early catalyst, opening the door to his vivid imagination and a world of boundless possibilities.”
In an exclusive clip from Sly, the 77-year-old screen icon behind the Rocky, Rambo, and Expendables film series describes first arriving in Los Angeles — only to have his car break down in the heart of Hollywood, leading him to call the one person he knew out there, actor Henry Winkler, who came to the rescue. Stallone ended up in a dingy apartment in the Valley by… Balboa Boulevard.
“This story perfectly encapsulated the same themes I observed in Stallone’s early days, which remain relevant today: self-belief, the power of dreams and ambitions, the inherent beauty of making mistakes, and the serendipitous moments of being in the right place at the right time,” explains Zimny. “Sly had a knack for seeing the world as a source of creative inspiration despite the circumstances. Another great example of this was his choice to name a character after Balboa Boulevard, the street where he had a dingy, modest apartment. Stallone had such talent for finding creative inspiration in the world around him.”
“I hope the audience takes away a new understanding of Sylvester Stallone the man, the filmmaker, and the artist,” he adds. “I wish for them to recognize how Sly’s movies have woven into the fabric of their lives, while also fostering an understanding and appreciation for his work and dedication to storytelling.”