Sylvester Stallone, Klitschko Brothers to Produce 'Rocky' Musical

COLOGNE, Germany – Apparently not bowed by the train wreck that was Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Sylvester Stallone is teaming up with world champion boxing brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko to make a musical version of his Oscar-winning boxing film Rocky.

our editor recommends

Sylvester Stallone Sued Over 'Expendables' Screenplay

Sylvester Stallone, Todd Phillips Projects Scheduled for Release in 2012

How Avi Lerner's 'Expendables' Gamble Paid Off

'Conan the Barbarian's' $70 Million Man: How Avi Lerner Is Making a Play for the Major Leagues

Stallone and the Klitschkos, who will produce Rocky: The Musical together with Kevin King Templeton of Stallone’s Rouge Marble shingle, announced the project in Hamburg on Monday.

PHOTOS: '80s Action Stars: Where Are They Now?

Stallone said in giving the pugilist classic the Andrew Lloyd Webber treatment he would be focusing on Rocky’s romantic side.

"At the end of the day, Rocky is a love story and he could never have reached the final bell without Adrian,” said Stallone. “To see this story coming to life on a musical stage makes me proud. And it would make Rocky proud."

PHOTOS: 'The Expendables' and 9 Other Sleeper Hits

Broadway veteran Thomas Meehan (The Producers) will write the script to Rocky: the Musical. Ragtime’s Tony-award winning lyricist Lynn Ahrens and composer Stephen Flaherty will re-team for the music, which will include songs from the Rocky films, among them “Eye of the Tiger,” “Gonna Fly Now” and “Take You Back.” Tony Award nominee Alex Timbers will direct.

In addition to co-producing, the Klitchko brothers will train the lead actor, who has not yet been cast, in the sweet science. 

COVER STORY: Why 'Expendables' Producer Avi Lerner Is Paying Sylvester Stallone $15 Million to Star in Sequel

Budgeted at $15 million, Rocky: The Musical will have its world debut, in German, in Hamburg November 2012. Stallone plans to then take an English version of the musical on the road to stages worldwide.