Sylvester Stallone may be trying to tread new ground by making bit appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (starting with last April’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”) at the risk of potentially cutting himself off from the “Expendables” franchise he started. But there really seems to be no getting away from one of his most iconic roles, despite no longer being at the center of the “Rocky” film franchise.

This status quo was cemented in the 2015 movie “Creed,” with Sly’s character Rocky Balboa mentoring Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan), the son of his late rival/friend Apollo. There’s no set date for the sequel to start production, but Stallone is already starting to tease ideas for it, calling back “Rocky IV” from 1985.

Instagram throwback

The fourth installment of the “Rocky” boxing film franchise has been going back to the forefront where Sylvester Stallone is concerned. Lately, he has been filling his Instagram account with posts of behind the scenes photos from that movie. “Rocky IV” as anyone can remember, has Stallone’s characters taking on steroid-powered Soviet boxer Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) to avenge the in-ring death of Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers)by Drago’s hands.

But where are all the throwback photos on Instagram leading to?

His most recent Instagram post has the answer with a Photoshop poster edit. It depicts Lundgren’s Drago from “Rocky IV” with Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis Creed facing off in the ring, while Stallone’s Rocky, as Creed Jr.’s trainer, looks on from the ropes. The accompanying caption is also heavy with hints as to where the possible “Creed 2” film may go. Sly writes, “HISTORY WILL ALWAYS REPEAT ITSELF IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER, JUST GOT TO BE READY! … Sins of the Father…. #creed2.”

Ghost from the past

Based on Sylvester Stallone’s Instagram throwbacks and that last post, it seems a likely scenario that for the “Creed” sequel Adonis may be facing an opponent with links to Ivan Drago of “Rocky IV”.

That character was responsible for killing his father and leaving him orphaned (he was conceived out of wedlock and his mom died early) until being adopted by Apollo’s widow. This angle was borne out of “Creed” director Ryan Coogler trying to conceptualize a way to bring Rocky ad Apollo back together, even if only in extended flashbacks.

“Creed,” the seventh film in the “Rocky” series earned over $173M in the 2015 box office and got Stallone a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor. Despite Sly’s social media blitz, talk for a sequel on New Line Cinema is nebulous at best, due to Coogler working on Marvel’s “Black Panther” which also stars Michael B. Jordan. That film is due to release in 2018.