The Creed films have caused a huge impact in the cinema industry, Creed (2015) and Creed II (2018), were both acclaimed by critics. The first movie grossed 173.6 million USD at the box office and Creed II grossed 214.1 million USD with just a 50 million USD budget. However, the films do not end here though, Creed III was recently announced and it is coming to our screens on March 3rd, 2023. The movie will be directed by Michael B. Jordan, who is also our main protagonist. The last two movies were directed by Ryan Coogler (Coogler also directed Marvel films like Black Panther and the upcoming film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) and Steven Caple Jr. (who directed some of the Transformers movies) respectively. These movies are part of the Rocky Balboa franchise, so the first Creed movie is considered the seventh film from the franchise.
Creed narrates the story of Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan), who is the son of heavyweight champion Apollo Creed. Adonis embraces his legacy as a boxer and seeks mentorship from Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), who turns out to be his father’s old rival. Creed II continues the story of Johnson, yet the film does a time jump to 1985 when Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) kills Apollo Creed in a tragic boxing match. In the present day Adonis, guided by Rocky Balboa, must face Drago’s son Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu).
Creed III is set five years later when Adonis is still dominating the boxing world, he is successful in both his career and family life. In the film appears Damian (Johnathan Majors), a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy who comes back to the ring after serving time in prison. Adonis must battle Damian knowing he has nothing to lose. This film will be the first one without Sylvester Stallone in our screens, yet he is part of the production. This cast is formed by Michael B. Jordan who has been playing Adonis Johnson since the first movie, Jonathan Majors (Damian Anderson), Tessa Thompson (Bianca Taylor), Wood Harris (Tony “Little Duke” Evers), Florian Munteanu (Viktor Drago) and Phylicia Rashad (Mary Anne Creed).
The production of the film started in February, 2020, when Zack Baylin was announced as screenwriter and Jordan confirmed to reprise his role of Adonis Johnson. A month later it was confirmed that besides having the main role, Jordan would also direct the movie, becoming his directorial debut. Later in April, 2021, Stallone announced he would not appear as Rocky Balboa in the film. Later that year, Majors joined the cast to portray Adonis’ rival, also that Florian Munteanu and Wood Harris would reprise their roles in the movie. In 2022, Mexican Boxer Canelo Álvarez was cast in an undisclosed role.
Principal photography began in January, 2022, because Jordan was spotted on the set in Atlanta, Georgia. For this movie, Kramer Morgenthau returned as the cinematographer, after doing so for Creed II. Creed III was shot on IMAX-certified Sony CineAlta Venice cameras and the Panavision anamorphic format, becoming the first film in the series to do so, filming ended in April, 2022.
If you have not watched the other Creed films, Creed (2015) is available on Amazon Prime Video and with option to rent or buy likewise Apple TV and Youtube. Creed II (2018) is on Netflix, and with option to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Youtube and Google Play Movies & TV.
Creed III has high expectations because the first two were critically acclaimed. The public interested in sports and Rocky movies are the main fans who are waiting for his movie to be premiered in cinemas.
Andrea Rich