The “Rocky” film series starring Sylvester Stallone, which started way back in 1976, seems like the cinematic gift that keeps on giving. While the story of its hero Rocky Balboa appeared to have concluded in the same-named sixth installment in 2006, the franchise would be revisited again in 2015 with the spin-off/sequel “Creed.” Here, a visibly aged Rocky becomes a trainer to the son (played by Michael B. Jordan) of his old friend and rival Apollo Creed. Its premise pretty much promised possible sequels featuring the legendary boxer in his new role, and Stallone dropped the hints for a “Creed 2” in July.
On Monday night he took to social media with more news; namely, that he will be directing.
Sly to produce and direct sequel
Sylvester Stallone, whose most recent movie outing was as a bit character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” went on Instagram on the evening of October 9 to announce that “Creed 2” is on, and that he will also serve as both producer and director. He also confirmed that he and Michael B. Jordan will reprise their respective roles of Rocky Balboa and Adonis “Donny” Creed, and that production should be underway by next year, in 2018.
This news is notable considering that, the month before, there have been news reports that Stallone was scriptwriting for “Creed 2” as well.
While such a task would sometimes lead to assuming directorial duties, especially from the franchise originator, no such detail was mentioned until this week. Stallone taking the chair may also be due to the fact that Ryan Coogler, who directed the first “Creed” film in 2015, is still busy with another upcoming MCU project, “Black Panther” which will also premiere next year, in February.
“Creed 2” will become the eighth installment of the overall “Rocky” films series.
Possible story of ‘Creed 2’
The original “Creed” movie, produced by MGM and distributed by Warner Bros., takes place near on to a decade after the events of “Rocky Balboa.” Donnie Johnson/Creed (Michael B. Jordan), the illegitimate son of late champion boxer Apollo Creed, starts his journey here to become a professional boxer.
To do so he enlists his father’s friend Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) to train him. Rocky does so despite his own doubts over his ability to mentor a future champ, and soldiers on even in the face of his own mortality after being diagnosed with cancer.
A prevailing theory on the plot of “Creed 2” would be Donny Creed confronting the son of former Soviet Union boxing champion Ivan Drago, who had killed his father in the ring back in 1985’s “Rocky IV.” MGM has not made any comments on this and on Stallone’s Instagram announcement.
