"Rocky Balboa" Plans XMas Knockout

Rocky Balboa, the next installment of the saga about a Philly punk enforcer who becomes a boxing superstar, written, directed by and starring actor Sylvester Stallone, will be distributed domestically by MGM Studios, Dec. 22.

The film was financed by Joe Roth's now defunct Revolution Studios, Sony Pictures Entertainment and MGM.

MGM will handle domestic and Sony will handle international theatrical/video distribution.

"All three partners involved in this project are tremendously excited with this new film and Sony is thrilled to be handling international distribution of the motion picture as well as home entertainment on a worldwide basis," Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group chairman of worldwide marketing and distribution Jeff Blake said.