Michael B. Jordan says the ‘Creed’ TV spin-off is happening.
It’ll be focused on Donnie’s daughter, Amara.
Amazon MGM is backing the series.
He might be focused on other projects right now (more on those lower down the page), but Michael B. Jordan hasn’t totally forgotten about the ‘Creed’ world. In fact, he’s looking to keep it growing.
“We’re spinning off doing Adonis’s daughter, Amara’s story, the television show that’s picked up at Amazon. So you’ll be seeing different parts of the Creed-verse, I like to call it. These little IPs are going to keep the universe alive without it being completely reliant on just me to push it through the finish line every time, as a boxer. I’ll be adjacent.”
Following the success of ‘Creed III’, which Jordan stepped up to direct as well as star in, there has been talk for a while about a fourth.
In late 2023, Jordan himself went on the record to say that another big screen outing was “for sure.”
But there hasn’t been much forward movement on that front, since Jordan has been keeping himself occupied elsewhere.
Still, him talking up the Amara TV series at least means it’s still on his mind.
The show would focus on the daughter of Donnie (Jordan) and Tessa Thompson‘s Bianca, who was played in ‘Creed III’ by Mila Davis-Kent. She has to deal with hearing issues (which Bianca also has) and is showing interest in boxing like her father.
So we may well see that crop up in the show. And that’s not the only TV series in the works –– one featuring the Delphi gym as seen in the movies is also developing.
What is Michael B. Jordan working on?
Most recently reuniting with regular collaborator Ryan Coogler for the wildly successful ‘Sinners,’ Jordan is currently busy with his second directorial outing, a remake of ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ for Amazon MGM.
Landing on Disney+ daily across eight days from December 22nd, the second season of Marvel’s Disney+ animated series ‘What If…?’ wraps up the show’s run –– at least for now –– with another set of episodes where several build to a grand, multiverse-hopping finale.
Disney’s Marvel arm has seen something of a renewal this year, between the success of ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ (even if that film poked plenty of fun at how tired the idea of the multiverse seems these days) and ‘Agatha All Along.’ And now here comes the welcome return of ‘What If…?’ which again blends more stand-alone stories with some clever easter eggs (and in one case, an actual egg) that knit together to spin a bigger tale around Jeffrey Wright’s powerful The Watcher. Who, it turns out, will have to answer for meddling in the affairs of different universes.
Does ‘What If…?’ Season 3 still provide multiversal fun?
In keeping with the previous two seasons, the new run of ‘What If…?’ offers a blend of intriguing possibilities and an overarching spine that only starts to reveal itself towards the end of this final eight episodes. Those who have seen the previous seasons won’t be surprised at what it is building to, though it’s mostly satisfying.
But the pleasure in this show is usually more in the individual episodes, which here run the gamut between the hilarious (one focused on Howard the Duck and his unlikely, but somehow perfect relationship) and the heartbreaking (an epic, dystopian story of what happens with a ‘Black Panther’-associated character following the near destruction of Earth by Tiamut the celestial). Indeed, there is better use of several elements of the ‘Eternals’ than in the movie itself.
Another welcome element, near prescient, given the runaway success of her solo show, is the presence of Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha Harkness.
And that’s probably about all we can say on that front, given the extensive embargoes in place on this!
The regular writing team of Matthew Chauncey, Ryan Little and A.C. Bradley are back for the season, and the scripts run the usual gamut of superb to solid. While there isn’t perhaps the knockout winner of, say, last year’s festive episode, there remains a good balance of character interaction and fascinating peeks into unusual corners of the MCU while also blending in some more comics-faithful moments for fans of the printed pages.
Bryan Andrews and Stephan Franck return to direct the episodes and the look of the show continues to evolve in subtle ways. Most of the characters will be instantly recognizable, while others, such as Obadiah Stane (voiced here by Kiff VandenHeuvel rather than Jeff Bridges) might take a moment.
There are the occasionally jarring replacements, but on the whole, it’s a satisfying set of voices. Seth Green is great as usual as Howard the Duck, playing perfectly off the energy of Kat Dennings as Darcy. And kudos to Wright who, when given more to do as the Watcher than simply observe and narrate.
Oh, and you won’t tire of hearing Jackson emote the phrase “Mr. and Mrs.… The Duck.”
It’s also fun to hear the likes of Jason Isaacs –– something of a genre titan thanks to ‘Harry Potter,’ ‘Star Trek,’ ‘Star Wars’ and the DC animated appearances he’s put in –– as a powerful cosmic entity whose voice fairly drips with withering sarcasm.
Though it may not quite hit the highs of last year’s festive season run, Season 3 of ‘What If…?’ certainly has enough pleasures to keep fans happy. And though the big finale feels a little predictable at times, it is definitely enough to leave you wishing the company would commission future seasons, especially given how effective the creative team has been in making compelling narratives fit in sub-30-minute episodes.
‘What If…?’ Season 3 receives 8 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the plot of ‘What If…?’ Season 3?
“What If…?” returns in Season 3 for its culminating adventure through the multiverse.
Watch as classic characters make unexpected choices that will mutate their worlds into spectacular alternate versions of the MCU. The Watcher (Jeffrey Wright) will guide viewers as the series traverses new genres, bigger spectacles, and incredible new characters.
(Left) Jon Bernthal at the ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ premiere. Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages. (Right) Pablo Schreiber as Master Chief in Halo episode 5, Season 2, Streaming on Paramount+ 2024. Photo: Adrienn Szabo/Paramount+.
Preview:
Jon Bernthal and Pablo Schreiber are the latest recruits for ‘His & Hers’.
Tessa Thompson is starring and executive producing.
Netflix is backing the limited series.
Murder mysteries continue to be all the rage for streamers in general and Netflix in particular. The company has Nicole Kidman on our screens right now for ‘The Perfect Couple’, and there is another example of the genre headed towards shooting.
Tessa Thompson (an MCU veteran who has also appeared in the likes of the ‘Creed’ films, ‘Passing’ and ‘Little Woods,’ will star an executive produce in the new limited series ‘His & Hers.’
Tessa Thompson in Marvel’s ‘Thor: Love and Thunder.’ Photo courtesy of Disney Studios.
‘Fellow Travelers’ Dee Johnson adapted Alice Feeney’s 2020 novel, which is set in the sweltering heat of Atlanta.
Our focus is Anna (Thompson), who lives in haunting reclusivity and is fading away from her friends and career as a journalist. But when she overhears about a murder in Dahlonega – the sleepy town where she grew up –– she is snapped back to life, pouncing on the case and searching for answers.
Detective Jack Harper (Bernthal) is strangely suspicious of her involvement, chasing her into the crosshairs of his own investigation. There are two sides to every story, his and hers, which means someone is always lying. Jack lost his last job and is now working in his small hometown of Dahlonega, Georgia, where he lives with his sister and niece.
Schreiber will portray Richard, one of the best cameramen at WSK TV News, and he’s also the husband of hot new anchor Lexy Jones, who slid into her position during the recent absence of regular anchor Anna. Richard is chosen by Anna to be her cameraman when, upon her return, she picks up the story of a murder in Dahlonega as a field reporter.
‘Lady Macbeth’ and ‘Eileen’ writer/director William Oldroyd is an executive producer and will handle the first episode of the six-episode limited run.
The producers also include Kristen Campo for Campout Productions, while Jessica Chastain and Kelly Carmichael will also oversee the series for their Freckle Films company, though there is no word yet on whether Chastain will be in front of the camera at all for this one.
Where else have I seen Jon Bernthal and Pablo Schreiber?
Pablo Schreiber as Master Chief in ‘Halo’ streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Adrienn Szabo/Paramount+.
Bernthal, in addition to his work on ‘The Bear’ might be best known for playing Frank Castle, AKA The Punisher in the Marvel Netflix TV series. ‘Daredevil’ and ‘The Punisher.’ He’s returning to the role for the upcoming MCU/Disney+ ‘Daredevil: Born Again.’
Producer Irvin Winkler says that a fourth ‘Creed’ is in development.
Star Michael B. Jordan is reportedly on board to direct.
No other details have been revealed yet.
With the ‘Creed’ franchise having spawned a successful third entry this year (‘Creed III’ earned $275 million worldwide), the producing team naturally have their eye on another movie.
Michael B. Jordan, who has played Adonis Creed since 2015’s ‘Creed’, stepped behind the camera to direct ‘Creed III’, which hit theaters this past March and co-starred a returning Tessa Thompson alongside Jonathan Majors as an old friend of the title character who seeks retribution for past wrongs.
Winkler didn’t mince words when suggesting that Jordan would be back making the new movie.
Here’s what the producer said:
“He will be. He did such a great job — he was comfortable with the camera.”
Neither production studio Amazon/MGM has said anything official about Jordan’s return, but it’s safe to assume the job is his if he wants it.
As of right now, no one is saying anything about what the story of the new ‘Creed’ might entail. And, Winkler acknowledged, the writers and actors’ strikes put a halt to forward movement.
Here’s what Winkler said about the movie:
“We are planning to do ‘Creed IV’ right now. We have a really good story and a really good plot. We got a little delayed because of the strikes, but about a year from now we’re going into pre-production.”
Given that ‘Rocky IV’ introduced Ivan Drago (and the ‘Creed’ films have already revisited that character), there’s every chance the new movie will see Adonis handle his own big new boxing threat –– and deal once again with his aging physique.
According to Winkler, the team worked hard to make sure the third ‘Creed’ fit into the franchise.
“Michael and the creative team had the beautiful vision from the start to create a wholly new and different experience for this movie. It had to be firmly cemented in what we all [know] the ‘Creed’ and ‘Rocky’ movies for… it had to have great action, boxing, but we also really examined what kind of movie we were making. And a lot of that, those early days with Michael were spent crafting how we were looking at the Damian [Majors] character, which is why I think everyone responded to the depth, not only on the page, but also on the screen. You spend half the movie having deep sympathy for him and understanding his vulnerability.”
When is ‘Creed IV’ due in theaters?
‘Creed IV’ has yet to announce a release date. But if it truly enters pre-production a year from now, it could be out in mid-2025.
Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis Creed faces off against Jonathan Majors’ Damian Anderson in ‘Creed III’. This movie also serves as Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut who has been starring in the sports franchise since 2015.
Following the events of 2018’s ‘Creed II’, Adonis “Donnie” Creed is considering retirement as the undisputed Heavy Weight Champion of the World when his childhood friend and former boxing prodigy Damian “Dame” Anderson comes back into his life, throwing everything into disarray. The film puts the two former friends at odds and Donnie will have to fight in the most emotional match yet.
“After dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed has been thriving in both his career and family life. When a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, Damien Anderson, resurfaces after serving a long sentence in prison, he is eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face-off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damien – a fighter who has nothing to lose.”
‘Creed III’ opened to $58.3 million domestially, $22 million more than ‘Creed II’. It is certified Tomatoe-meter fresh with a 89% score from critics and 96% from audience. The third installment has grossed $272 million worldwide since it’s release.
Helming a popular franchise such as ‘Creed’ is no easy task, yet Michael B. Jordan took on the challenge of being both the lead of the film and stepping behind the camera to direct. The star’s impressive resume and dedication shows as the film balances its action, heart, and humor extremely well.
Jordan kept the tone from the the previous ‘Creed’ films such as the action and redemption arc while adding his own flavor like utilizing slow-motion in the ring. This helped emphasis each punch and by using it sparingly, it didn’t make it feel like a gimmick. Jordan’s love of anime can also be seen in his directorial style. The actor has spoken about his love for animes such as ‘Naruto’, ‘Dragonball Z’, and ‘One Piece’, and using it as a visual reference for some of the fight scenes.
Cinematographer Kramer Morgenthau light the actors in such a unique and abstract way for the final match, using colors like red and green to emphasis what they’re feeling as they made their walk toward the ring. Morgenthau worked with Crafty Apes, the VFX team, to map out the final moments and by using a motion-control camera, the fight was immersive and distinctive.
With a stellar box office and reception, a “Creed-verse” may not be too far off. According to Deadline, Jordan has met with Amazon to explore other ‘Creed’ related projects. No details are confirmed but there are talks of spin-off projects such as an anime series, live-action TV series, and even a story centered on Donnie’s daughter Amara, played by deaf actress Mila Davis-Kent. A spin-off movie based on Rocky’s nemesis Ivan Drago and his son Viktor Drago has also been announced. The possibility is endless when it comes to the Creed/Rocky universe, which is quite exciting for fans of the franchise.
Where Is Rocky?
(L to R) Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan in ‘Creed II.’
One thing that was mising from ‘Creed III’ was Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa. Although Rocky has constantly been in Donnie’s corner in each movie, this is the first film in the ‘Creed’ saga to not feature the character. They do mention his name once during the film but Rocky’s whereabouts was not clear, so what happened?
Although Stallone created the characters in the original ‘Rocky’, he sold the rights to producer Irwin Winkler and MGM in order to have the first film made, therefore he has no real say in the future of the franchise. Stallone did not agree with the direction Winkler wanted to take with the franchise, and felt it was too dark.
We don’t know whether Stallone will return to the franchise, but his absence was definitely noticeable as someone who had been a mentor for Donnie since the first ‘Creed’ film.
The film premiered in Mexico City on February 9, 2023 and released theatrically in the United States on March 3, 2023. It is the third film in the ‘Creed’ franchise and the 19th film in the ‘Rocky’ saga. ‘Creed III’ has a total runtime of 1 hour and 56 minutes. You can still experience the boxing action-drama in theaters. Be sure to check below for showtimes in your area.
Watch the official trailers for ‘Creed III’ below:
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Prefer to watch experience the movie from your home? You’re in luck. ‘Creed III’ is now available to rent or purchase digitally on the Amazon streaming service, Prime Video as of April 1, 2023.
Having pummeled the competition at the box office this past weekend, with a $58 million opening weekend and $110 million globally after less than a week on release, ‘Creed III’ has certainly confirmed that the sports franchise that grew from the ‘Rocky’ movies is alive, well and punching above its weight (the third movie, in fact, earned more in three days than its two predecessors did across five-day holiday launches).
So when Michael B. Jordan told Deadline last week that he’s “excited” about building a universe around boxer Adonis Creed, his family, friends and colleagues, it certainly sounds like we’re getting closer to that becoming a reality.
It’s still early days on all of this, and neither Jordan, MGM nor Amazon (which owns MGM) are officially commenting, but word is that we could see an anime series based on the ‘Creed’ movies that would allow the team to tell more stories set in his world.
And, following on from ‘Creed III’, there is also talk of a show based around Adonis and Bianca (Tessa Thompson)’s daughter Amara, as played by deaf actress Mila Davis-Kent in the movie. What exactly that might be remains to be seen –– whether it follows her now or perhaps even in her adult life.
There’s also mention of a live-action series, but again, that’s still nebulous at this point.
There hasn’t been much word of it for now, though we’re sure Amazon would want Lundgren back on screens.
(L to R) Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan in ‘Creed II.’
Will Sylvester Stallone be involved in the spin-offs?
Any new ‘Creed’ Development appears unlikely to feature involvement from Sylvester Stallone, who let’s not forget, is the progenitor and star of the entire ‘Rocky’ film franchise, without which there would be no ‘Creed’ in the first place.
Sly has been outspoken in his dissatisfaction with the lack of reciprocity when it comes to rights between himself and producer Irwin Winkler. The producer refused to hand the rights back to Stallone and the actor/writer has cut ties with the franchise.
And Sly’s issues extend to not even watching ‘Creed III’, in which he does not appear as Rocky. “You can’t make peace with someone who’s been so, so nefarious, in my opinion,” he told Jessica Shaw on Sirius XM.
Which means we’re unlikely to see ‘Rocky & Friends’ as one of the big new offerings from the Creed-verse. Though if the success of the latest movie has proved, Adonis Creed’s world has moved on from Rocky.
‘Creed III’ is produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Chartoff-Winkler Productions, Outlier Society Productions, Proximity Media, and Balboa Productions, and is scheduled for release on March 3rd.
‘Creed III‘ will open in theaters on March 3rd and is the third film in the ‘Creed’ series, the ninth movie set in the ‘Rocky’ universe, and the first film directed by actor Michael B. Jordan.
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What is ‘Creed III’ about?
‘Creed III’ follows the events of 2018’s ‘Creed II,‘ and features Adonis “Donnie” Creed (Michael B. Jordan) ready to retire from professional boxing as the undisputed Heavy Weight Champion of the World. But when Donnie’s childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, Damian “Dame” Anderson (Jonathan Majors), resurfaces after serving a long prison sentence, he asks Donnie for help returning to the ring and winning the championship. But once Anderson is champion, he turns on Donnie personally and publicly, forcing Creed back into the ring to fight his former friend, facing an opponent he’s never fought before – a fighter who has nothing to lose!
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with actor and director Michael B. Jordan and actor Jonathan Majors about their work on ‘Creed III,’ what viewers need to know to prepare for this film, the deep relationship between Donnie and Dame, and Jordan’s work behind the camera.
You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Jordan, Majors, and actress Tessa Thompson.
Moviefone: To begin with, what would each of you say to viewers sitting down to watch this movie to prepare them for the film experience they are about to have?
Michael B. Jordan: I mean, just have an open mind and an open heart, and buckle up because it’s a ride. Once we get started, I’ll see you in two hours and I’ll check in on you on how you feel.
Jonathan Majors: There’s no way to prepare yourself for ‘Creed III.’ You got to come in with your dukes up. Doesn’t matter, it’s a knockout. Bob and weave, come with an open heart, and come with an open mind. These are familiar characters being looked at in a very different way. You’re going to see Adonis Creed in a very unique way that’s going to give you even more insight to the hero, primarily because of the introduction of Damian Anderson, his long lost friend. You’re in for a wild fight. Flex them up!
Michael B. Jordan directs and stars as Adonis Creed in ‘Creed III.’
MF: Michael, can you talk about your vision for this film, particularly the fight sequences, and as a director, what it was like working with your cast and crew to execute that?
MBJ: I mean, as far as the boxing sequences for me, it’s probably the part of the story that I’ve daydreamed and thought about the most over the past eight years. When you’re involved in a process and you think about boxing and fights, there’s certain things that you’re curious about wanting to try, and obviously they don’t make it to every movie. So I’ve been kind of compiling a list of things that I’ve always wanted to kind of try, and then also trying to make this one feel fresh and different.
So leaning on my love of Japanese anime and the spirit of that, and how I can make things feel different, and pitching that to my cast and my crew. Getting everybody on the same visual reference point of what kind of film we’re making, and what type of creative swings that we would be taking and just going out and just doing it. It’s like you got to go for it. So I think my love of anime definitely helped me creatively and artistically take some creative swings.
Jonathan Majors stars as Damian Anderson in ‘Creed III.’
MF: Jonathan, what was it like working with Michael, both as a scene partner and as a director?
JM: It was incredible. It was an experience as an actor, I’ve not had, and I don’t see it coming down the pipeline again. Where you have an actor that’s going to lead his own franchise as an actor and then also direct it. That’s just not something that people are driven to do. I mean, that seems quite difficult. It is difficult. I watched him deal with that difficulty with grace, elegance, confidence and conviction.
Because of that, we have the picture we have, and he gave a hell of a performance. So I got to witness it and it was a team effort, the building of Dame and the making of this film. But he was a leader throughout and he really orchestrated every day, even in the chaos, he was there and present, boots on the ground, gloves on to help us craft a story. So I can’t imagine, I don’t think anybody else could have directed the film, even if Mike was in it, and have the same outcome. I think this outcome is quite beneficial to cinema and to audiences.
MF: Finally, one of the taglines of the film is, “How do you fight a fighter with nothing to lose?” But I think it really should be, “How do you fight a fighter who knows you better than you know yourself?” Can you talk about the personal history between Dame and Donnie, and why that makes Anderson such a dangerous opponent for Creed?
MBJ: Well, I feel like the people that know you the most could hurt you the worst. So I think it’s one of those things where I really wanted to go back to Adonis’s childhood and make this an origin story of sorts, and a sequel and a trilogy all in one. And it’s also a origin story for Dame as well.
So I think to be able to go back there and go through that childhood trauma, and really understand Adonis’s first relationship, his first friendship, his first heartbreak, his first betrayal, just when he first get inspired, who taught him how to fight, who protected him, and all those things that make up the man that he is today, that we know him as. Then we pick up in present day and we have a little bit more context of who he is.
But then also you have to address your past in order to really move forward and become the best version of yourself. So we wanted to see Adonis struggle with that, and struggle to talk about his past, and struggle to talk about how he feels about certain things, and see what that does to the people that are around him, his loved ones. How does that affect them? How does that affect him? Then to see him pull it out and actually rise to the mountaintop, I thought was truly inspiring.
JM: Yeah, it’s a familiar trope, isn’t it? But it’s probably the most real and the most dangerous. When you fight someone that knows you better than you know yourself, the only way to win is to grow and to engender something new in yourself. That’s very interesting.
Dame is literally the fellow who taught Adonis how to fight, and how to throw those punches. Yes, he is from the Creed stock, he is the son of a champion, but that champion was not there to teach him how to use the tools that he was given, endowed with by birth. Dame is the one who teaches him how to exercise his birth right. So there’s a social and an emotional debt that someone has to overcome.
So it transcends this idea of, “Oh, I know you physically. I know you socially and emotionally.” So I mean, that’s why we have our picture. Dame represents that in such a strong way that it really is a David vs. Goliath story on multiple levels. Adonis has to overcome that. And in the overcoming of it, he grows.
‘Creed III’ is produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Chartoff-Winkler Productions, Outlier Society Productions, Proximity Media, and Balboa Productions, and is scheduled for release on March 3rd.
Opening in theaters on March 3rd is the third film in the ‘Creed’ series and the ninth movie set in the ‘Rocky’ universe entitled ‘Creed III,’ which also marks the directorial debut of Adonis “Donnie” Creed actor Michael B. Jordan.
What is ‘Creed III’ about?
Following the events of 2018’s ‘Creed II,’ Adonis “Donnie” Creed (Michael B. Jordan) is about to retire as the undisputed Heavy Weight Champion of the World. But when Creed’s childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, Damian “Dame” Anderson (Jonathan Majors), resurfaces after serving a long sentence in prison, he asks Donnie for help getting back into boxing, as he is determined to win the championship. Eventually, Donnie is forced back into the ring to fight his former friend, facing an opponent he’s never fought before – a fighter who has nothing to lose!
In his third outing as Adonis Creed, Michael B. Jordan gives another strong and dedicated performance but it is his work behind the camera that is truly impressive, while Jonathan Majors steals every scene he is in with his menacing and electrifying performance as Damian Anderson.
Michael B. Jordan is one of the best actors of his generation and has demonstrated this in moving independent features like ‘Fruitvale Station,’ and strong blockbusters like ‘Black Panther’ and ‘Creed.’ Returning for his third time as Adonis “Donnie” Creed, and first time without Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa (more on that later), Jordan gives a mature performance proving that the character has grown since the last we saw him.
This is an older Donnie, a successful professional athlete on the verge of retirement looking forward to spending more time with his aging mother, musician wife, and deaf daughter. But Donnie is haunted by his childhood living in an orphanage, before his father’s widow adopted him, and the dark secrets he has been hiding for most of his life. Once Damian returns, it stirs up these old feelings in Donnie, which Dame brilliantly uses to his advantage.
It seems as if Jordan is channeling some of himself into the role, as the megastar actor can relate to being financially successful, and the problems that comes with that level of success. But as Donnie, he also wants to protect his family and their future from the sins of his past. Donnie is not a lost boy anymore, as he was depicted in the first ‘Creed,’ he is now a man and a champion, and that comes shining through Jordan’s performance.
Jordan also has an extremely impressive directorial debut with ‘Creed III.’ Jordan balances the film’s tones of fighting for survival and redemption quite well, and even injects some humor into the film. Jordan clearly has learned a lot about filmmaking from his years on sets and from watching his mentor and collaborator director Ryan Coogler on ‘Fruitvale Station,’ ‘Creed’ and ‘Black Panther.’
While Jordan handles the emotions and drama of ‘Creed III’ very well, he also makes the fight scenes interesting, moving the camera around the ring with the fighters and using slow-motion sparingly but effectively. However, there is one choice Jordan made as a director that I completely disagree with and it actually took me out of the movie for a second. It’s a scene that comes towards the end of the film’s final fight sequence, so I will be careful not to give too much away. But Jordan makes a directorial choice to inject the fight with visual metaphors that hurt the reality of the fight scene itself, and for me, took the viewer completely out of the moment. I get what Jordan was going for, but I just don’t think it worked.
(L to R) Sylvester Stallone as Robert “Rocky” Balboa and Michael B. Jordan as Adonis “Donnie” Creed in director Ryan Coogler’s ‘Creed.’
‘Creed III’ marks the first film in the trilogy to not also feature Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa character. The trilogy is clearly a spinoff of the ‘Rocky’ franchise, and while the character is mentioned once or twice in passing, Balboa’s whereabouts and why he is no longer in Donnie’s corner are never revealed.
Jordan and the other filmmakers do a good job of creating a ‘Rocky’ movie without Rocky, and while it is still in the vein of the previous films in the franchise, they go out of their way to make it different from the other movies in the series. The “Theme from Rocky” or “Gonna Fly Now,” as it is better known, is barely used, if at all, and has been modified so you can barely hear it in the background.
There is also a moment where you can tell the filmmakers wanted to step away from what you would expect from a ‘Rocky’ movie. In the inevitable training montage, Donnie runs to the top of a hill overlooking the Los Angeles skyline. This would seem to be the perfect moment to have the theme start playing and for Donnie to pump his fists in the air, recreating the iconic moment on the Philadelphia Museum of Art stairs from the original ‘Rocky,’ which has been duplicated in almost every ‘Rocky’ movie since. But Jordan avoids that moment, like so many other typical ‘Rocky’ moments that the film ignores, which really places the movie into its own chapter of the ‘Rocky’ story.
But honestly, the real reason Rocky does not appear in ‘Creed III’ is more complicated. While Sylvester Stallone did create the characters in the ‘Rocky’ franchise and the original screenplay, he sold the rights to producer Irwin Winkler and MGM decades ago to get the first movie made, and thus has no real say in the future of the franchise. Apparently, Stallone did not agree with the direction Winkler, Jordan and ‘Creed’ director Ryan Coogler, who is given story credit on this movie, wanted to take the future of the franchise. Whether Stallone will ever play Balboa again on the big screen is yet to be known, but the actor does not appear in ‘Creed III’ and the character is barely mentioned.
I understand the circumstance, and think it was probably best to continue the Creed story without Rocky, however, I would have liked a little more explanation as to why the character doesn’t appear, and why he is no longer in Donnie’s corner. In fact, Rocky is only really mentioned in passing as “that guy your dad fought,” and the other ‘Creed’ movies certainly established a close if not father/son relationship between Rocky and Donnie. So, it is weird that there is no character update in ‘Creed III’ regarding Rocky or why he is no longer Donnie’s trainer, and it seems that a simple line of dialogue or two could have fixed that issue.
To be accurate, Adonis begins the film with a rematch against his opponent from ‘Creed II,’ Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu). But it is his old friend Damian “Dame” Anderson (Jonathan Majors) that is Donnie’s main opponent in ‘Creed III,’ both in the ring and out. Anderson is Donnie’s oldest friend, who has just been released from prison, something Donnie blames himself for.
At first, Damian asks Donnie for help training, as he is determined to win the championship, despite his age and lack of experience as a professional boxer. Donnie agrees, but bumps heads with Damian, who clearly has a chip on his shoulder. Donnie eventually helps Damian become champ, but it’s not enough for Dame, and he goes after Donnie and his family personally and publicly in order to convince Donnie to get back into the ring so he can show the world he is the better fighter and have payback for what happened between them in the past.
After fantastic performances in last year’s ‘Devotion’ and ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,’ which hit theaters last week, ‘Creed III’ is poised to cement Jonathan Majors reputation as one of the finest actors working today. Majors gives an absolutely stunning and menacing performance as Damian Anderson, and at times, even out shines Jordan himself. Majors plays Damian as a brooding and calculating character, one who knows just how to push his old friend’s buttons perfectly to get the desired reaction. Damian is a real threat to Donnie, in the ring and out, but their former friendship is what keeps the dynamic fresh and interesting.
Majors is also in top physical shape for this movie, lending to his threat to Donnie, making the idea of Creed winning their fight impossible, which adds to the film’s suspense. In the world of ‘Rocky’ movies, I would put Damian Anderson right up there with Mr. T’s Clubber Lang from ‘Rocky III,’ and of course Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) from ‘Rocky IV,’ as the strongest opponents in this franchise.
Besides Majors and Jordan, the strongest performance in the movie comes from Tessa Thompson as Donnie’s wife Bianca Taylor, and the actress has really made this character her own. Even from the first ‘Creed,’ Thompson has taken the role and elevated her from the “sideline support” that Adrian (Talia Shire) gave Rocky in the original. Bianca has always had her own storyline, whether it is concentrating on her music career, or dealing with her progressive degenerative hearing disorder.
In the new film, she is a mother of a deaf child, the wife of a boxing champ, and also a successful music producer. Thompson plays the role of supporting wife well, but is at her best in scenes dealing with her family, the secrets that Donnie has been keeping from her, or her reluctance to except Damian as a friend. Thompson elevates the role, and over three films, has created a fully formed character that you can really relate to.
Phylicia Rashad also returns as Donnie’s adopted mother Mary Anne Creed, the widow of Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). The actress is given a little more to do this time around, as Donnie’s childhood plays into the main story with Damian. Wood Harris also reprises his role from the other ‘Creed’ movies as Tony “Little Duke” Evers Jr., who is Donnie’s trainer and the son of Apollo Creed’s trainer. Harris is fine in the role, but again, it is strange to look in Donnie’s corner and not see Rocky!
Final Thoughts
In the end, while ‘Creed III’ does exist in the ‘Rocky’ universe, it is completely its own film. This is Adonis “Donnie” Creed’s story, and a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Star Michael B. Jordan gives another strong performance as the character and also gives an impressive directorial debut, while Jonathan Majors continues to dazzle in another remarkable and transformative performance.
‘Creed III’ is produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Chartoff-Winkler Productions, Outlier Society Productions, Proximity Media, and Balboa Productions, and is scheduled for release on March 3rd.
With ‘Creed III’ arriving next month, star (and, on this occasion, director) Michael B. Jordan is being asked about the future of the boxing movies that feature him as Adonis “Donnie” Creed, the son of the late Apollo (Carl Weathers in the ‘Rocky’ movies).
Talking with IGN about ‘Creed III’, Jordan didn’t expand much on his ideas, but did say that he intends to stick with the ‘Creed’ franchise. Answering questions about a potential fourth movie, he said it was “for sure”.
And, as with every popular movie from a studio these days, it appears there will be spin-offs of some fashion. “I just want to expand the ‘Creed’-verse within reason, but definitely expect other things around ‘Creed’ for sure.”
It’s just the latest step for the ever-expanding spin-off from the ‘Rocky’ movies, though the ‘Creed’ films are moving away from Sylvester Stallone’s veteran boxer.
Through 2015’s ‘Creed’ (directed by Ryan Coogler) and 2018’s ‘Creed II’ (with Steven Caple Jr. in the director’s chair), Donnie has battled his demons, fought powerful opponents in the ring and tried to forge a family life with Bianca (Tessa Thompson) and their daughter, who has inherited her mother’s hearing difficulties.
‘Creed III’ moves the story forward a few years but also back several, as the story sees Donnie reconnecting with old friend and prodigy Damian Anderson (Jonathan Majors), who went to prison, and resents that Adonis did not (as he was involved in the incident).
Out of Jail and quietly burning with vengeance, Anderson threatens Donnie – and Adonis decides to face him in the place he knows best – the ring. And without Rocky in his life for this round, this time, the fight is truly personal.
And it’s even more personal for the man in front of the camera – who steps behind it for the first time. Michael B. Jordan, who has played Adonis since the first film, is also here the director.
“I think for me it was the perfect time,” says Jordan.. “I finally got to this place in my career where I wanted to tell a story and not just be in front of the camera, not just execute somebody else’s vision. And having a character that I’ve played twice before, it’s been seven, eight years living with this guy. So to be able to tell a story of where I believe Adonis is at, and also at 35 years old, I had a lot to say as a young man, as a young Black man, just my life experiences and how I could actually share that, share a piece of myself with the world––through these characters and through this story. You just gotta jump in the deep end and go for it, you know?”
‘Creed III’ will be in theaters on March 3rd.
Michael B. Jordan in ‘Creed III.’
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(L to R) Evan Rachel Wood and James Marsden in HBO’s ‘Westworld.’
‘Westworld’, which for four seasons has been delighting (and more often confounding) viewers with its complex, twisty storytelling and changing characters since it debuted in 2016, has been cancelled at HBO.
Based on the 1973 film by Michael Crichton (who would go on to employ a similar idea of attractions causing trouble in his novel ‘Jurassic Park‘), ‘Westworld’ –– initially, at least –– told the story of a sprawling Western-themed park where humans could interact with complicated artificial people. And by interact, it usually meant either sleep with or kill.
As the show went on, the canvas expanded to include different zones within the park with their own themes and the futuristic world outside of it, as the “hosts” –– the park’s creations –– broke out of their programming (and their restrictions) and began to plot a takeover of the human sphere.
An initial success –– its premiere drew the channel’s highest viewership since the debut of “True Detective” in 2014, it was initially buzzy, but its appeal began to wane slightly in later years, most notably after a big break in episodes due to the pandemic.
Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Robert Ford in HBO’s ‘Westworld.’
Though HBO offered no official reason for the cancellation, there is already talk that it’s a combination of declining ratings (even without need of advertising revenue), with a precipitous drop between Seasons 3 and 4, and the hefty price tag for the show.
An effects heavy head-scratcher, it featured expansive visuals of futuristic cities, a big cast and lots of artificial beings to bring to life.
It’s no secret that HBO parent company Warner Bros. Discovery has been on a cost-cutting run of late, and while it still has big productions upcoming (such as ‘The Last of Us’), it has clearly decided that ‘Westworld’ was no longer worth producing.
“Over the past four seasons, Lisa and Jonah have taken viewers on a mind-bending odyssey, raising the bar at every step,” HBO said in a statement. “We are tremendously grateful to them, along with their immensely talented cast, producers and crew, and all of our partners at Kilter Films, Bad Robot and Warner Bros. Television. It’s been a thrill to join them on this journey.”
“Making ‘Westworld’ has been one of the highlights of our careers,” Nolan and Joy have remarked. “We are deeply grateful to our extraordinary cast and crew for creating these indelible characters and brilliant worlds. We’ve been privileged to tell these stories about the future of consciousness –– both human and beyond –– in the brief window of time before our AI overlords forbid us from doing so.”
No shade there, then. Nolan and Joy, meanwhile are still at work on visions of the future –– they have a deal at Amazon, where they’re currently producing ‘The Peripheral’ and developing other projects.
Ed Harris as The Man in Black in HBO’s ‘Westworld.’
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