Wow this is weirder than the Rocky musical that's supposed to be coming out.
While I thoroughly enjoyed Rocky Balboa mostly because it helped wash the bad taste of Rocky V out of my mouth, I fully expected it to be the last time we'd see Sly on the big screen portraying the Italian Stallion.
Apparently I was mistaken.
According to "Deadline," Stallone will soon return to his old character on the big screen, but not as a fighter, as a trainer. Director Ryan Coogler and Aaron Covington are developing the movie Creed, a film that will focus on the grandson of Apollo Creed, the antagonist and eventual friend of Rocky Balboa. Up and comer Michael B. Jordan is currently being courted to play Apollo's grandson. Here's a breakdown:
The intention is for Jordan to play the grandson of
Apollo Creed (played in the early movies by Carl
Weathers). Raised in an upper-crust home thanks to the ring riches earned by
his grandfather, the young man doesn’t have to box and his family doesn’t want
him to. Yet, he has the natural instinct and gifts and potential that made his
grandfather the heavyweight champion until Rocky Balboa took his crown in 1979′s
Rocky II. Creed’s grandson needs a mentor and turns to Balboa, who is out of
boxing completely and not eager to return.
Balboa was Creed’s greatest opponent and later his best friend until that fateful moment when Balboa heeded Creed’s wishes and didn’t stop the fight against the Soviet fighter Drago (played by Dolph Lungdren in 1985′s Rocky IV) before the giant delivered what proved to be a fatal beating.
When I first saw this story I thought it was a complete joke. However looking over the plot outline I could definitely see this working. And Michael B. Jordan is a hot commodity right now so it would be best to scoop him up quickly.
Michael B. Jordan can currently be seen in the critically acclaimed Fruitvale Station also directed by Coogler. Stallone has the action movie Escape Plan set for this October and will soon begin shooting The Expendables 3.
It starts with the story, and I think this is a good one. Never been a huge Rocky fanboy but I like the idea of the "world" that spans several movies and it seems like this fits in well.
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