On Sunday, Sylvester Stallone, 75, shared the stage with his Rocky IV co-star Dolph Lundgren, 63, for a Q&A session at the Birmingham NEC.

Neither actor could wipe the glowing smile from their faces during the reunion presented by Jenni Falconer, 45, at the sold-out event during Arnold Sports Festival UK.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, 74, completed the star-studded lineup by joining the team via video chat because he was unable to attend in person owing to a leg and foot injury.

While the trio has dominated the action picture franchise, they are poised to reconvene on screen in the upcoming Expendables 4 – which will be shot in the United Kingdom. 

The muscular couple posed arm in arm, each assuming a boxing position as they smiled joyously for bystanders, proving they were worlds away from their austere on-screen demeanor.

Sylvester looked smart in a black knitted jumper and matched trousers, while Dolph looked dapper in a stone bomber jacket and navy denim.

Arnold was supposed to attend the ceremony in person, but doctors advised him not to go due to a leg injury. He promised his admirers on Twitter that he would be in attendance next year.  

‘I am quite disappointed that I will be unable to attend due to my leg ailment. I hurt my leg, foot, and calf. My doctor advised me not to travel. So please accept my apologies.’

‘I’m going to beam in now and then over the weekend. You’ll see me on the screen. So I’m looking forward to returning in 2022. ‘I’ll be there.’

As they exited the venue, Sylvester held hands with his lovely wife Jennifer Flavin, who was dressed to the nines in a salmon-knitted jumper and black trousers. 

Despite the cheerful smiles, the couple met on-screen in 1985, with massive Ivan beating Rocky’s best friend and mentor Apollo Creed to death in the ring. 

Rocky, who was persuaded by Apollo not to give up, hated himself for his death and resolved to face the scary 6ft5 Russian fighter to avenge his death.

Ivan displayed little remorse after the incident, telling reporters that ‘if he dies, he dies.’

Rocky, who famously declared Drago would have to kill him to beat him, flew to the Soviet Union to train for the 15-round grudge bout on Christmas Day.

Rocky quickly takes a hammering from Ivan, but returns and manages to harm Ivan, who is not used to being injured, shocking the audience.

Stunned by Rocky’s determination, a reeling Drago declares, ‘he is not human, he is like a piece of iron.’

Rocky lands a series of uppercuts to Drago’s torso before striking him in the face and then delivering a knock-out left hook in the triumphant climax.