The stalled movie career of Sylvester Stallone may get the jump-start it so desperately needs with the reactivation of his Rocky Balboa franchise. MGM has announced it is in negotiations with the actor-writer-director to present "Rocky VI," about the perennial boxing underdog. (The first "Rocky," in 1977, was a surprise hit -- and Oscar's Best Picture of the Year.) Stallone, 53, declined comment on the possibility of a new "Rocky," which MGM said would cost in the neighborhood of $30 million, making it (by studio standards) a low-budget movie.

  • In similar comeback news, there have been reports that Paul Reubens, who currently costars in the comedy "Mystery Men" with Ben Stiller and Janeane Garofalo, is contemplating doing a third movie comedy starring his Pee-Wee Herman character. It's been a long time between Pee-Wees ("Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" was in 1985," "Big Top Pee-Wee" in '88).