MGM announced that the third installment in the “Creed” franchise will be directed by its star Michael B. Jordan. The film began pre-production in February 2020, but was halted due to the global pandemic. However, production will resume this summer and hopefully meet the 2022 Thanksgiving release date promised by MGM.
Jordan’s directorial debut comes as no surprise. Fans speculated the actor would traverse behind the camera after Tessa Thompson made an off-hand comment regarding Jordan and “Creed III” during the press tour for “Creed II.” He’s certainly learned from the best, working alongside directors Ryan Coogler and Steven Caple Jr. on the first two “Creed” movies.
The aforementioned Thompson has already signed on for “Creed III” reprising her role as Donnie’s wife, Bianca Taylor. Phylicia Taylor, who plays Donnie’s mother, is also back. Sylvester Stallone, however, has yet to comment, and it’s unknown whether Sly will rejoin the cast as the infamous boxer turned trainer Rocky Balboa.
Keegan Coogler and newcomer Zach Baylin wrote the script for “Creed III”, based on an outline by Ryan Coogler. The ending of “Creed II” was both tightly wrapped and somewhat ambiguous, leaving the door wide open for “Creed III”. However, the series has narratively followed in the footsteps of “Rocky,” already reintroducing familiar characters like Viktor Drago and Rocky himself into the contemporary franchise.
Am I hinting at a Clubber Lang revival? I’m not not hinting at it. Mr. T is only 68 years old and rumor has it, he still pities the fool! But we won’t know for sure until the fall of 2022, so until then, here’s the classic final battle between Rocky and Clubber at the end of “Rocky III.”
