The action within the ropes of the boxing ring, always has something larger to say about what is happening outside of it in Rocky movies. This fall, director Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station) is helming the next installment in the Rocky franchise, Creed. Where we find Rocky Balboa as a supporting character who still has an uphill fight, but it’s not in the ring. Meanwhile, Michael B. Jordan (The Wire, Fruitvale Station) is stepping into the spotlight as the new boxing hope, Adonis Creed.
For actor Michael B. Jordan, art is imitating life more than he may have anticipated when he filmed the movie. He is coming off of one of the most infamous comic book movie disasters in recorded human history, with the Fantastic Four. While the failure of the film definitely didn’t fall on his shoulders, the stench of the movie is so strong that it will take nothing less than either a great film, or a box office hit to truly cleanse the audience’s palette.
In the second trailer, we get a further look into the story and exactly what challenges are presented for not just Adonis, but Rocky as well. We have seen Balboa grow from a hoodlum in the 70’s, to a world-class boxer and champion in the 80’s. We even saw him not accept his old age and climb into the ring one final time in Rocky Balboa. However, to see him now fight his mortality, speaks to the generation that grew up with him and is as poignant a way to handle the character as any.
Coogler has already proven to be skilled dramatic director very early in his career. While Jordan is on the verge of taking the next step and becoming a household name. Creed looks like it has the opportunity to be a truly special film and to give this generation its own take on the underdog boxing story. Yet it still feels authentic and true to what has made Rocky so iconic for decades. And whenever you get the opportunity to listen to the streetwise philosophies of Rocky Balboa, you take it every time, because you never know when they could be gone. Enjoy the trailer!
Official Synopsis:
From Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema comes award-winning filmmaker Ryan Coogler’s “Creed.” The film explores a new chapter in the “Rocky” story and stars Academy Award nominee Sylvester Stallone in his iconic role. The film also reunites Coogler with his “Fruitvale Station” star Michael B. Jordan as 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?
“Creed” also stars Tessa Thompson (“Selma,” “Dear White People”) as Bianca, a local singer-songwriter who becomes involved with Adonis; Phylicia Rashad (Lifetime’s “Steel Magnolias”) as Mary Anne Creed, Apollo’s widow; and English pro boxer and former three-time ABA Heavyweight Champion Anthony Bellew as boxing champ “Pretty” Ricky Conlan.
Creed opens on November 25th, 2015.
