Boxers and movie franchises have a lot in common, in that they both must decide when it’s the right time to call it quits. Sports and movie fans alike have seen fighters and franchises that have continued past their prime, and it’s never a pretty sight. After six successful movies, most fans thought 2006’sRocky Balboawould be the last time we’d see this iconic character on the big screen, but that all changed with the upcomingCreed, which extends theRockyfranchise while giving it a fresh spin.Warner Bros.has released a new preview, where evenSylvester Stallonehimself admits that he thought his days asRocky Balboawere all over.
Sylvester Stallonereveals that he had never thought about exploring a story focused on Apollo Creed’s son, while producerIrwin Winkleralso admits that he thought the franchise was over, until he heard about writer-directorRyan Coogler’s (Fruitvale Station) pitch forCreed. The filmmaker says that he was introduced to theRockyfranchise through his father, who would make him watch Rocky II before he had a big game during his childhood. We also hear fromMichael B. Jordan(Adonis Creed) andTessa Thompson(Bianca), who discuss howCreedgives fans a new chapter in theRockylegacy.
Creedexplores a new chapter in the Rocky story and stars Academy Award nomineeSylvester Stallonein his iconic role. The film also reunites directorRyan Cooglerwith hisFruitvale StationstarMichael B. Jordanas the son of Apollo Creed. Adonis Johnson (Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa.
Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky (Stallone) down and asks him to be his trainer. Despite his insistence that he is out of the fight game for good, Rocky sees in Adonis the strength and determination he had known in Apollo-the fierce rival who became his closest friend. Agreeing to take him on, Rocky trains the young fighter, even as the former champ is battling an opponent more deadly than any he faced in the ring. With Rocky in his corner, it isn’t long before Adonis gets his own shot at the title…but can he develop not only the drive but also the heart of a true fighter, in time to get into the ring?
The supporting cast is rounded out byTessa Thompsonas Bianca, a local singer-songwriter who becomes involved with Adonis,Phylicia Rashadas Mary Anne Creed, Apollo’s widow and English pro boxer and former three-time ABA Heavyweight ChampionAnthony Bellewas boxing champ “Pretty” Ricky Conlan.Ryan Cooglerdirects from a screenplay he wrote with Aaron Covington, based on characters from theRockyseries written bySylvester Stallone. The film is being produced by Robert Chartoff,Irwin Winkler, Charles Winkler, William Chartoff, David Winkler, Kevin King Templeton andSylvester Stallone, withNicholas Sternexecutive producing. Check out the new featurette fromCreed, arriving in theaters November 25.
