Sico had a surprisingly extensive life following its cinematic debut in “Rocky IV.” The robot made subsequent appearances on TV specials, music videos, sitcoms, and even tours with James Brown, where the two performed the “Rocky IV” original song “Living in America.” There were even talks of a spinoff series focused on Paulie and Sico. But when the time came for “Rocky IV” to have another moment in the spotlight, Sylvester Stallone stopped any chance of Sico joining the action.
When announcing his plans for a “Rocky IV” director’s cut in 2020, Stallone added that the robot would not be included. While Sico’s erasure can be chopped up to the filmmaker’s efforts to make the story a more grounded affair, Robert Doornick believed that another reason was to blame. “By causing turmoil among the fans of Sico, it generates more publicity,” he told Empire Magazine. “And by removing the robot from the movie, it saves money in royalty fees because he is a member of the Screen Actors Guild. Sico receives [checks] all the time — and of course, he sends them over to me.”
Removing Sico was especially distressing, as it halted further opportunities to spread International Robotics’ mission of connecting with neurodivergent kids, similar to how they helped Stallone’s son. Sico’s memorable appearance and earnings from the original film allowed the company to visit and donate to various schools, hospitals, orphanages, and more. While Stallone’s vision deserves respect, it’s still a saddening moment for fans of Sico and the team behind the marvelous machine.
