Q: Has working on (The Contender) gotten you fired up to make Rocky 6?

Stallone: I'm always fired up to make another Rocky. It dawned on me a long time ago that I have this character who's almost autobiographical, so his story can keep going. The character can go places where the actor is in his life. The movies almost become documentaries.

Q: So where is Rocky now?

S: Society says to people, "Step aside; age gracefully." I've never thought there was anything graceful about aging. So I used what George Foreman did with his comeback fight a few years ago as a model. Everyone thought he was a joke, but he followed his own drum.

Q: Since you're still in fighting shape, will Rambo be back, too?

S: There has been movement in that area, yes. Of course, it won't be what you think - not the same Rambo with the headband. In keeping with some sort of believability, he would be passing the torch to a younger generation of high-tech combatants. We're working on an interesting premise where Rambo is brought back from living on a ranch somewhere, and because of his skills in jungle warfare and survival, he's asked to lead a young group in a search-and-rescue mission. They can't believe this decrepit guy is a war hero, but when their technology fails, they see where Rambo excels.

NBC's boxing-themed reality show, The Contender, is scheduled to debut in January, with Stallone set to hop in the ring as host. The Mark Burnett produced show will feature amateur boxers competing against each other for a $1 million purse and the chance to turn pro.

Stallone also has a new job besides making films or TV shows. According to E-Online, Stallone is heading for a beefy role in a new men's magazine. He will lend his name and image to the start-up pub, to be dubbed simply "Sly".  The glossy is set to be launched by American Media Inc. n January. It will be a monthly magazine, focusing on health and fitness with a target demographic of men in the 35- to 54-year old range.

The magazine isn't the actor's first foray into merchandising. In May, he launched a line of nutritional supplements through his Instone company, including Intake Go, a low carb pudding, designed to up energy levels and Forza-T, a product designed to increase testosterone levels.