Yo, NBC: MGM Television is getting ready to launch a search for "The Real Rocky."
Studio, along with producers Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler -- who collectively control the rights to the "Rocky" feature franchise -- are developing an unscripted skein that will give an unknown boxer a shot at fighting an established champ.
News comes just a few weeks after NBC paid a record sum for "The Contender," another boxing star search from exec producers Mark Burnett, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Sylvester Stallone.
Genuine imitators
A slew of "Contender" copycats are already being shopped around town.
Paramount has talked to networks about a skein starring boxer Roy Jones Jr., while grillmaster George Foreman is attached to a project from Jim Lampley and Next Wave Entertainment. Don King may also be looking to jump into the fray, as may former champ Oscar De La Hoya, industry insiders said.
But while "The Real Rocky" may seem a reaction to NBC's skein, MGM topper Hank Cohen said the project -- which will be officially pitched to nets next week -- has been in the works since last May.
"We registered this idea with the Writers Guild last May... (and) we've been very meticulous about developing this, perhaps even moving too slowly," Cohen said. "We want this to be as close to a reality version of the first 'Rocky' as we can. We want to find underdogs and give them their one-in-a-million shot."
That means using the original Bill Conti score as well as clips from the pics, Cohen said.
Talks are already under way with several ex-champs about coming on board to serve as "The Real Rocky's" version of Apollo Creed. Cohen even hopes the show's real-life star has a girlfriend to serve as an unscripted Adrian.
Building from pics' style
Winkler Films prexy Rob Cowan said the partners are "looking to build off not only the integrity of 'Rocky' but also the style of what the movie was all about. We think we have a unique way of entering this world."
Project, which is being packaged by Endeavor, will be a production of MGM Television, Chartoff Prods. and Winkler Films. Trio are in talks with Ron Ziskin Prods. about serving as showrunner.
Lynn Hendee will also oversee for Chartoff-Winkler, which produced "Rocky" for MGM. Robert Sparks and Arthur Sarkissian ("Rush Hour") brought the idea to MGM and will be consultants.
While Stallone's involvement in "The Contender" will give that project an obvious "Rocky"-esque hook, Cohen doesn't think that will make "The Real Rocky" any less appealing.
"In television, it's not so much about an individual as much as it is trying to capture the spirit of 'Rocky' of overcoming and beating the odds," he said. "It's a powerful statement to (have a show that's) from the producers of 'Rocky' and 'Raging Bull.' "
Several reality business insiders are skeptical about whether the TV marketplace can support more than one "Contender"-like skein. Clones of skeins such as "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," "The Bachelor" and "American Idol" have largely failed.
MGM's "American Idol"-like "Fame," for example, didn't last long on NBC last summer. Burnett also has a spotless track record of producing hit reality shows when he's on board a project from the start.
Who's on first?
Timing could be key. "Contender" is not slated to bow until early next year, so it's possible one of the nets that lost out to NBC for the rights to the skein could attempt to get their own boxing skein on first.
One insider, however, argued that a net considering buying a show like "The Real Rocky" can't really lose.
"If you put it on and it works, you've got a hit," the insider said. "If you put it on and it fails, you've hurt NBC."
There've been past conversations about reviving the "Rocky" franchise with Stallone. An MGM spokeswoman, however, said there was nothing new to report on that front.
Contact the Variety newsroom at
news@variety.com